Postdoctoral Researcher for JustBioSolar Project
The BC3 is an international research centre located in Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain). BC3’s vision is to steer climate change science towards the co-production of new knowledge and the co-design of policy solutions together with other stakeholders through a solid and transdisciplinary approach, with the ultimate goal to achieve more sustainable and just futures. Its mission is to co-produce knowledge and co-design policy solutions with stakeholders, integrating environmental, socioeconomic, and ethical dimensions to address the global challenges of climate change. Founded in 2008, BC3 has grown into a leading international research centre, recognized for its multi-scalar research with global reach.
About the project:
The JustBioSolar project, funded by BiodivERsa+ (the European Biodiversity Partnership) aims to:
Assess how large-scale solar projects affect biodiversity, including biocultural diversity, and perceptions of justice in different European rural contexts.
Identify planning, governance, and communication practices that enable socially just and biodiversity-friendly solar development.
Understand how power relations and policy discourses shape solar energy decisions from local to European levels.
Co-develop practical principles and pathways for sustainable solar energy landscapes together with stakeholders.
Job description
The postdoctoral researcher will conduct critical literature reviews on the main topics of the project and engage in transdisciplinary empirical research in the case study of the Basque Country. In addition, the postdoc will collaborate with the project partners towards making the case studies comparable to reach the joint deliverables of the project. More generally, the researcher will support Prof. Unai Pascual to achieve the scientific objectives of the project, to develop effective and efficient task management and to collaboratively work, publish and disseminate project findings. The Postdoctoral Researcher will undergo a six-month probation period.
Key responsibilities
Conceptualization and development of a research design to analyse trade-offs of the green energy transition based on large-scale solar projects, biodiversity conservation and social justice.
Generate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
Carry out empirically-based research on a case study from the Basque Country using a mixed-based methodological approach including quantitative and qualitative research methods. This will involve applying a transdisciplinary approach, in turn requiring leading activities such as identifying and engaging with key stakeholders, conducting interviews ,leading and facilitating focus groups and stakeholder workshops.
Review and synthesize the available scientific and grey literature to support the conceptual and empirical research.
Day-to-day assistance for the management of the project at BC3 to fulfil expected project deliverables and milestones, and collaboration with other researchers of the project consortium.
Contribute to support communication and dissemination of project activities and outputs (including project meetings, conferences, deliverables).
Lead and contribute to research articles for publication in peer-reviewed international scientific journals.
Main requirements/skills:
PhD in social sciences related disciplines (e.g. political science, environmental psychology), interdisciplinary social-environmental field (e.g. geography, environmental/ecological economics, rural studies, development studies). Other degrees might also be evaluated.
Proven quantitative skills (e.g., statistics, econometrics, GIS), and/or in qualitative research methods (e.g., critical discourse analysis, content analysis).
Demonstration of a track record of peer-reviewed publications as well as the ability to initiate and complete original research.
Research experience and knowledge of the literature on any of these topics: green energy transition, biodiversity conservation, social-ecological frameworks, politics of nature conservation, rural development, and knowledge integration.
Fieldwork experience for primary data collection
Ability to coordinate and contribute to research teamwork and conduct transdisciplinary work with local stakeholders.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Excellent written and oral command of English.
Desirable requirements/skills:
Knowledge of national or/and international green energy and biodiversity conservation related policies, concepts and frameworks around “ecosystem services”, “nature’s contributions to people”, “nature’s values”, “environmental justice”.
Knowledge of transdisciplinary methods and / or multi actor research
Good knowledge of Spanish language.
Benefits and work environment
Interdisciplinary and inspiring work environment.
35-hour week work calendar.
30 days of vacation per year.