Research Fellow in Food Systems Transformation (Analytical Support)

February 4, 2024

Job Description


Job title: Research Fellow in Food Systems Transformation (Analytical Support)

Company: University of Edinburgh

Job description: Job Description:

UE07 £37,099 to £44,263 per annum (A revised salary range for this grade of £39,347 to £46,974 is planned to take effect from Spring 2024)

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences/University of Edinburgh Business School

Contract Type – Fixed Term – March 2024 – February 2027

Full Time – 35 Hours Per Week

We are looking to hire a highly motivated Research Fellow in Food Systems Thinking (Analytical Support), with excellent analytical, organisational and interpersonal skills, to work on our new Wellcome Trust Living Good Food Nation Lab project ( ).

This project is closely linked to exciting new Scottish legislation, the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act, and aims to support its ongoing implementation. Led by University of Edinburgh Business School, our transdisciplinary team brings together academic, governmental, public sector and 3rd sector partners with expertise in nutrition and public health, environmental modelling, public food procurement, food policy and governance, anthropology, and sociology, of food, food and procurement law, social policy, behavioural change, and food systems transformation.

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week) however, we are open to considering part-time (4-5 days) and/or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working with a minimum requirement for 2 days/week on campus working.

The Opportunity:

Working closely with Professor Jaccks and Dr Alexander (Unit Leads – Analytical Unit), the Research Fellow in Food Systems Transformation (Analytical Support) will provide essential analytical support to relevant authorities in Scotland including reviewing, refining, and baselining a basket of indictors of progress for measuring food systems transformation. Indicators will cover the outcome categories listed in the GFN Act namely: 1) the environment, including climate change, wildlife and the natural environment; 2) health and physical and mental wellbeing; 3) social and economic wellbeing; 4) economic development, 5) animal welfare, 6) education, and 7) child poverty.

Your skills and attributes for success:

  • PhD or equivalent professional experience in relevant field. This includes a wide range of possible quantitative disciplines such as economics, statistics, environmental science, or epidemiology.
  • Skills in writing for academic and/or stakeholder audiences, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and/or stakeholder outputs.
  • Interest in food systems transformation in Scotland
  • Proven ability to work independently and as a member of a diverse team.
  • Highly organized and adept at multi-tasking.

Click to view a copy of the full job description.

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success. You will benefit from a competitive reward package and a wide range of staff benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits , staff discounts, , flexible working and much more. Access our for further information and use our to find out the total value of pay and benefits provided.

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our .

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

About Us: As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About the Team:

The College Office is located in various buildings closely co-located in George Square. It contains the central administrative and management services for the College, which are led by the College Senior Management Team, consisting of the Vice-Principal/Head of College, the College Registrar, five Deans, the College Accountant, the Head of College HR and the College Chief Information Officer.

The administrative support structure of the College is led by the College Registrar, with Teams covering Academic Affairs; Admissions (Undergraduate, Visiting and Postgraduate); Estates; Finance; Human Resources; Knowledge Exchange, Research; Resources and Web Development.

The College Office hosts the College-wide Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), which is an important framework for interdisciplinary work across the humanities and social sciences.

The College also hosts the Centre for Open Learning (COL) which provides part time and short courses during the day and evenings for a range of members of the local community, from people returning to learning, to professionals seeking to develop their skills. (COL) incorporates the University’s Languages for All centre, offering a wide range of language support for our students.

To find out more about the College Office and IASH please visit our websites:

Expected salary:

Location: United Kingdom

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