Research Assistant or Fellow in Economic Valuation of Coastal Zone Environments

Role Description

We welcome applications from passionate individuals to contribute to our research on the economics of coastal ecosystems.

About the Role

The Cranfield Environment Centre at Cranfield University is looking for an enthusiastic and talented post-doctoral research fellow to work on an exciting NERC project called “Resilient coasts: optimising co-benefit solutions (Co-Opt)” (https://www.smmr.org.uk/funded-projects/co-benefit-solutions-for-resilient-coasts-co-opt/). This is being funded under NERC’s Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources programme (https://www.smmr.org.uk/fund-about/).

The sea and communities are in constant interaction on the coast. Whilst people can benefit greatly through that interaction, they can also be harmed, and over 1.8 million homes in England are estimated to be at risk from coastal flooding and erosion. These hazards will increase over time under climate change and increasingly, coastal management and adaptation will require nature-based solutions such as the development of coastal habitats and wetlands. Working closely within an interdisciplinary team of scientists and with project and public stakeholders, you will develop an integrated and interdisciplinary economic modelling framework that will be used to examine the costs and benefits of nature-based coastal defences. You will then apply the model at a number of selected case study sites to identify how coastal management options under various future scenarios will impose different sets of costs and benefits. In doing this, you will help identify how nature-based coastal management options and the ecosystem services can provide options for coastal management.

About You

Ideally, you will be educated to doctoral level in a relevant subject in applying economic analysis in land use or ecosystem services valuation, with demonstrable applied experience in environmental economics and quantitative economic research. You will be motivated to use existing economic models and develop new quantitative economic modelling tools to assess coastal zone management options. Excellent modelling skills, particularly in Excel, will be needed. Preferably, you will have some experience of applying social science methods, to support development of questionnaires, undertake qualitative interviews, and run stakeholder workshops, in order to investigate how social perceptions, support, and concerns might vary between grey and green coastal management options. You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The focus of the Cranfield Environment Centre is to transform the science of environmental solutions through a systems approach, spanning sensor and measurement technology, systems modelling, environmental informatics, big data, and decision science. The Centre covers research on air quality and climate change, soil quality, crop growth and monitoring, natural capital, resilience, ecosystem goods and services. Find out more about our work here.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                   

For an informal discussion, please contact either: Dr Anil Graves, Reader in Land Use Systems (+44 (0)1234 754294; a.graves@cranfield.ac.uk); or Dr Simon Jude, Reader in Environmental Decision Making (+44 (0)1234 754295; s.jude@cranfield.ac.uk)

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 4914.

Closing date for receipt of applications:   2 October 2024

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.