Research Associate in Environmental Psychology (ED13869)

The Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformation (CAST) is expanding and we have an exciting new opportunity for a Post Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA), to lead research on how community-based initiatives and “everyday influencers” can drive fair, climate-resilient, low-carbon change.

About the role

As part of the People-Centred Climate Resilience (PCR) project, you will co-design, implement and evaluate a Climate Action Changemakers scheme, working with locally embedded organisations (such as community groups, faith organisations, membership bodies) and a youth cohort. You will develop and deliver the research components of this scheme, including designing study protocols, recruiting and following participants, conducting qualitative and quantitative data collection, and analysing how participation shapes climate action, confidence and community capacities over time.

Alongside this, you will lead qualitative interviews and longitudinal monitoring with “everyday influencers” involved in climate-related initiatives (for example community leaders, practitioners and other changemakers) to understand how climate conversations and practices spread through social networks. You will synthesise learning from other research within the PCR project to generate insights on equity, inclusion and scalability of community-based climate action, and work closely with CAST colleagues to feed findings into academic articles, reports and engagement activities for policy and practitioner audiences. 

About you

You will

• be educated to a PhD degree level or equivalent.
• have a significant depth and breadth of specialist knowledge of subject matter to contribute to research programmes and to the development of departmental research activities.
• have an awareness of latest developments in the field of research and in research design.
• be able to demonstrate potential to publish in high quality, peer reviewed journals.

Further information

This role is offered on a part-time basis, working 29.2 hours per week (0.8 FTE) for a fixed-term period until until July 2029. 

It is based at the University of Bath (with hybrid working option), though is part of a wider collaboration of universities and charities based across the UK.

An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.