Part-Time (0.5X) EcoFoodSystems Research Fellow, Agriculture &…

Part-Time (0.5X) EcoFoodSystems Research Fellow  

Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute

&

College of Science & Engineering

 Ref. No. University of Galway 285-22

 Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a part-time (0.5) fixed term position as a EcoFoodSystems Research Fellow in the research group of Prof. Charles Spillane within the Agriculture and Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute at the University of Galway.

 This position is funded by EU via EcoFoodSystems Research Grant www.ecofoodsystems.org and is available from 1 November 2022 to contract end date of 30/09/2026.

 Project Title: Climate-resilient agroecological transitions of food systems (EcoFoodSystems).

 Objectives of the project: The research and innovation goal of the EcoFoodSystems  project is to develop a systems-based approach  for agroecological transitions of urban and peri-urban food systems for improved health and climate resilience, with corresponding decision-support tools and multi-stakeholder platforms to facilitate coordinated, landscape-scale transitions to navigate associated benefits and trade-offs for both rural and urban communities within city region food systems. The EcoFoodSystems project will engage in development and co-creation of sub-national decision-support dashboards and decision-support tools in collaboration with city regional stakeholders, end-users and beneficiaries in the food systems of selected city regions in Ethiopia, Vietnam and Colombia. See: www.ecofoodsystems.org

 Job Description:

 The EU/IFAD funded EcoFoodSystems project is seeking a dynamic Research Fellow who will work closely with the Lead Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators to generate research and innovation impacts from the project.  By 2050, more than two thirds of the world population will be living in urban areas, the majority living in cities. Food systems serve diverse farmer and consumer constituencies with differentiated impacts on sustainability, economic growth, social inclusion and nutrition. A rural-urban food systems transition focus is critical to ensuring sustainable rural development in concert with transitioning of food systems in city regions towards more sustainable, resilient, and healthy dietary outcomes. The EcoFoodSystems project places particular emphasis on linking national to subnational food systems (including data systems for decision-support) in each of the three countries to generate data and knowledge for more effective decision-making that enables climate-resilient agroecological transitions of food systems.

 Led by the University of Galway, with global partners including CIAT-Bioversity Alliance, Wageningen University and Research (WUR) and RIKOLTO, the EcoFoodSystems project builds from previous food systems activities and processes in Ethiopia, Vietnam and Colombia. EcoFoodSystems will: (1) Develop a systems and evidence-based approach for priority-setting and targeting of landscape, value chain, community and farm scale agroecological intensification interventions/innovations that enable socially-inclusive food system and nutrition transformations; and (2) Co-create  scaling strategies for agroecological innovations to enable City-Regional food systems transitions that improve sustainability, nutritional security and climate resilience in each country with relevant stakeholders.

 The EcoFoodSystems Research Fellow will be responsible for advancing the research and innovation outputs, impacts and outcomes of the research project, under the direction of the Principal Investigator, to ensure that the projects goals, milestones and impact are reached.

 Duties

•  Manage and conduct a specific programme of research within the EcoFoodSystems project, under the direction of the Principal Investigators.

• Develop research methodologies appropriate to the EcoFoodSystems Project technologies/practices that add to the intellectual understanding of the field.
• Play a leading role in international collaborative EcoFood Systems research and act as a driver of research projects and outputs.
• Make a significant contribution to the outputs, outcomes and impact pathway(s) of EcoFood Systems research and scholarship including peer-reviewed academic publications of international standing.
• Working under the supervision the Lead Principal Investigator and making a substantial contribution to the EcoFoodSystems field of research with the PI
• Work closely with the Lead Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators in leverage of research income and Contribute to major research grant applications to support research projects
• Working with the Lead Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators, contribute to the co-supervision post-grads and PhD students.
• To act as the driver of research outputs, outcomes and impacts of the EcoFoodSystems project.
• Additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
• Organise and conduct meetings with research staff to clarify objectives, develop team work plans/timetables for research and support staff, communicate progress.
• Participate in the selection of staff and student recruitment to the EcoFoodSystems project.
• Deal with contract negotiation and financial allocation with other collaborators for research projects.
• Peer review manuscripts for publication and/or research bids. Write up drafts of EcoFood Systems research work for publication.
• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the School or Research Institute, or the University and the Principal Investigator (Prof. Charles Spillane).

 Essential Requirements:

• PhD of relevance to food systems, with significant experience in data analysis, data visualisation and development of decision0-support dashboards. Willingness to engage in interdisciplinary research including conducting high quality research across many disciplinary boundaries.
• Track record of high-quality publications and/or innovation outputs
• A minimum of 10 years postdoctoral experience, including an international element of relevance to food, agriculture, food security and sustainable development.
• Demonstrable track record in publications.
• Demonstrable track record in supervision of students, including contributing to undergraduate project supervision and Masters Dissertations on taught programmes.
• Demonstrable track record in research leadership within a research group or laboratory.
• Demonstrable track record in contribution to the writing of research proposals which are submitted to peer-reviewed funding processes.
• Demonstrated contribution to management of research projects (reporting, financial management, purchasing etc)
• Proven ability to coordinate overall delivery of project objectives including interdependencies across work packages
• Track record of communication research to a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience of devising new methodologies to solve complex research problems

  Desirable Requirements:

• GIS (ArcGIS, qGIS), Crop modelling (DSSAT), R and Data analysis skills, Big-data approaches; Economic modelling.
• Published peer-reviewed journal papers addressing modelling of sustainable development in concert with transitioning of food systems towards more sustainable, resilient, and healthy dietary outcomes.
• Innovation and commercialisation outputs, e.g. development of patents, prototypes
• Experience working with Government agencies, nationally or internationally
• Ability and willingness to work in and promote diverse multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments.

 (For research assistant and Part-time posts, please include this clause in the advertisement)

Employment permit restrictions apply for this category of post

 Salary: €56,933 to €74,322 per annum per annum pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts (public sector pay policy rules pertaining to new entrants will apply).

 Start date: Position is available immediately

 Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Researchers at University of Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans.  

 Further information on research and working at University of Galway is available on Research at University of Galway

 For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

 Further information about EcoFood systems is available at www.ecofoodsystems.org

 To Apply:

Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Prof. Charles Spillane: e-mail Charles.spillane@universityofgalway.ie

 Please put reference number University of Galway 285-22 in subject line of e-mail application.

 Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm 11th November 2022

 We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post.

 University of Galway is an equal opportunities employer.

 All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment

 ’University of Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.  Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment – see www.universityofgalway.ie/rdc  for further information.’