Research Fellow in Conservation Humanities at University of Sussex
Job Description
Hours: part time hours considered up to a maximum of 0.75 FTE.
Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).
Contract Type: fixed term until 31/01/28 (with a 3 month extension)
Applications must be received by midnight of the closing date.
Expected Interview date: To Be Confirmed – around 17th or 18th July 2025
Expected start date: September 15th 2025
About the role
Working with partners Rewilding Britain, you will be the UK post-doctoral researcher in a European Consortium project, “RURALEX – Knowledge in Crisis – The Dynamics of Environmental Expertise amidst Rural Change”, funded by HERA/CHANSE. The RURALEX project asks: How are people’s knowledges about the environment in rural parts of Europe changing, and how do such changes affect the social, cultural and ecological challenges currently faced by local communities?
The 17 researchers working on the RURALEX project will study this phenomenon in diverse cases across Europe. We will use established qualitative (interviews, archival studies) and novel (multispecies deep mapping, micro-phenomenology) to surface and share human-environment relations and knowledge.
The UK case study will work in areas of nature recovery and rewilding. Working with partners Rewilding Britain we will explore how people experience and value rewilding landscapes and if and how the associated changes impact ecological knowledges, environmental relationships and socio-ecological conflicts.
As the UK post-doctoral research fellow, you will lead on field work (interviews, analysis and publications), working closely with the UK PI and a research adviser. You will collaborate closely with the wider consortium and engage in project management, knowledge exchange and engagement activities.
About you
With a track record in Environmental Humanities or related fields, you will have skills and experience in outdoor participatory field work using qualitative methods and an interest or expertise in environmental issues. Your previous research experience will have furnished you with proven skills and experience to manage your own workload whilst collaborating with others, project manage a strand of work across the consortium, engage with stakeholders across sectors and co-supervise an MA student. You will have the enthusiasm, confidence and critical thinking to learn new skills and apply them in novel contexts; you will have the curiosity, creativity and collaborative skills to co-develop and test novel methodologies.
About our Faculty
The Faculty of Media, Arts, and Humanities brings together a wide range of disciplines including English, History, Art History, Philosophy, Media, Film, Music, Drama, Journalism and Language Studies. The faculty offers a vibrant platform for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Why work here
Find out more about our reward and benefits package.
Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion
Further Key Information
Please contact Alice Eldridge (alicee@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
