We are looking for a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher to join the emerging BIG-5 research team at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology – one of Europe’s leading research institutes in interdisciplinary social-ecological sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre.
In addition to the application through the UAB application system, candidates can also send their applications as one integrated PDF file to Dr. Johannes.Langemeyer@uab.cat. Please write PD2_LANGEMEYER in the subject line.
To validate this request, you must validate the form that is accessed at the URL: https://seleccio.uab.cat/
Any application that is not submitted in this way will not be included in the selection process.
Position Context
The decline in direct nature experiences is often cited as a cause for diminishing appreciation of nature and reduced commitment to environmental stewardship. However, the ERC-project BIG-5 considers the internet as an overlooked factor in enhancing nature experiences, fostering nature values, and promoting environmental stewardship, counteracting the so-called ‘extinction of experiences’ of nature.
With over half of the global population already using social media, the BIG-5 project leverages five of the world’s largest social media platforms to better understand how physical-virtual nature interactions support sustainable global transitions in a rapidly changing world. The project introduces Digital Relational Values (DRVs) as fundamental and eudemonic values developed within virtual communities through indirect experiences of nature. It explores these values across five landscape types, five large social media networks, and in five languages using qualitative and quantitative (big data) approaches in an inductive-deductive manner.
The BIG-5 project aims to:
(a) Identify DRVs across different social media platforms,
(b) Understand how they spread across virtual communities,
(c) Examine the relationship between virtually produced DRVs and physical environmental stewardship.
By doing so, BIG-5 challenges the assumption of an “extinction of experiences” and the consecutive decline of nature values and care for the environment. It underscores the importance of relational values as a foundation for environmental stewardship and contributes to a novel understanding of the physical-virtual continuum in generating nature values.
For more information visit BIG-5.eu
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will join the BIG-5 team as a post-doctoral researcher with a research focus on relational nature values and/or environmental stewardship. Responsibilities include:
• Engaging in the conceptual development of the project
• Research design and data analysis including interviews, survey, experiments, large language / topic modelling, social network analysis
• Involvement in the supervision of other team members
• Acting as a knowledge broker between social-environmental research at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and computational social science research at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC)
Skills:
• Social media / big data analysis
• Social network analysis
• Large-Language Models
• Experiment Design
• Survey / Interview Design
• Advanced statistics
• Strong scientific writing
• Machine learning (optional)
Benefits
• Opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in an ERC-project in the field of Digital Relational Values
• Association with two outstanding European research institutes and recognized centres of excellence.
• Competitive Spanish salary (adapted to the candidate’s experience)
• Career development, training, reflections, and close mentorship by Prof Johannes Langemeyer
This position offers a unique chance to be at the forefront of research exploring the intersection of digital and social-environmental realms, contributing to novel understanding of people’s nature values and environmental stewardship between real world and digital realms.
Research field
A proactive, highly motivated researcher with a PhD in Environmental Science, Social-Ecology, Environmental Sociology, Environmental Psychology, Environmental Economics, Computational Social Sciences or related fields.
The ideal candidate should have:
• A strong background in (big) data handling and statistical analysis
• Experience in either Digital Social Network Analysis, Experiment Design or Large-Language Models
• Demonstrated research interest in relational nature values and/or environmental stewardship
• A strong track record, including publications in international journals
A team player who is fluent in English, capable of navigating international collaborations and willing to contribute to cutting-edge, high-risk high-gain interdisciplinary research
Benefits
Depending on dedication, qualification and experience: Min (26h/week) 28.500 to 30.000€, max. (37,5h/week) 31.000€ to 35.300 €/year gros salary.
Eligibility criteria
• Academic Record – 30
• Language skills – 15
• Relevant research experience – 30
• Interview – 15
• Motivation – 10
Minimum score required to pass the selection process: 90
Selection process:
The selection process will consist of the following phases:
1. Application Submission
Candidates should submit:
(a) Curriculum Vitae
(b) Motivation letter (should not exceed 1 page)
(c) 2 first-authored scientific publications
(d) 2 external reference letters (optional)
Deadline for submission: 22-11-2024 29-11-2024
2. Initial Screening
Applications will be reviewed for qualifications and relevant experience.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified around 02-12-2024.
3. Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, either in-person or via video conference.
The interview will focus on the candidate’s background, experience, motivation and fit for the project.
4. Final Selection
The final candidate will be selected based on their performance in the interviews, qualifications, and overall fit for the project.
The selected candidate will be notified around 09-12-2024.
5. Appointment
The appointed candidate will begin their position around 15-01-2025 (unless agreed differently).
