Junior Researcher for the HARVEST Project of the TURBA Lab Research Group (Temporary)

Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya; España; Hybrid; EUR 26,000 - 38,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote/hybrid work

Paid time off 37 days (approx)

Professional development

Well-being services

Job summary

Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya seeks a Junior Researcher for the HARVEST project within TURBA Lab. The role focuses on qualitative ethnography and social foresight, with responsibilities spanning WP7 tasks, data collection, and community co-creation.

The contract is 11 months, fixed-term and part-time (75%), starting February 2027, with hybrid remote/on-site work. Strong interdisciplinary background and policy narrative skills are essential.

Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Sciences or related disciplines with interdisciplinary agri-food focus.
• 5+ years of experience in related research practices.
• Knowledge of European agricultural policies (CAP) and AKIS.
• Ability to translate qualitative results into policy narratives for local to European levels.
• Expertise in qualitative methods, participatory ethnography, and social foresight.

Responsibilities

• Co-designing methodological framework and participatory ethnographic guide for agroecological practices.
• Data collection and mapping of good practices using qualitative techniques (interviews, observations).
• Facilitate creative co-creation workshops and a Slow-Tech Fanzine with communities.
• Support ethnographic documentary work on agricultural business model innovation.
• Analyze data to enable replication and scaling in other contexts.

Education

PhD in Environmental Sciences or Environmental Science and Technology, Geography, Social Sciences

Tools

ATLAS.ti

NVivo

MAXQDA

Basecamp

Miro

Job description

Organisation/Company Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Research Field Agricultural sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 25 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Part-time Hours Per Week 28,87 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe Reference Number 101294152 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Would you like a job in which your talent really has an impact on your surroundings? The UOC is not simply a university: our institution is dynamic, determined and ambitious, and drives social and educational changes. Over 30 years ago, we made history as the world's first online university. Our goal is to generate, transfer and join together knowledge to build a more critical, responsible and non-conforming society.

We are seeking to recruit a Junior Researcher for UOC-TRÀNSIC – Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Social and Cultural Transformations, within the operational/research group of TURBA Lab at the UOC.

The aim of the HARVEST project is to explore business models and social narratives that transform the perception of agriculture in Europe, converting it into an attractive, inclusive and indispensable sector for society. Placing the lived experience of farming communities at its core, the project investigates the reasons why people decide to enter or leave the profession, evaluating both structural and cultural barriers. Within the framework of the tasks of the UOC and the TURBA laboratory, the specific aim focuses on developing qualitative and ethnographic methodologies to identify, map and scale agroecological good practices across different European research hubs, as well as designing and facilitating participatory foresight workshops and creative tools (such as fanzines and documentaries) to co-create future scenarios and policy recommendations.

Responsibilities

The selected candidate will assume research responsibilities primarily linked to the execution of Work Package 7 (WP7) of the HARVEST project during their employment period. Specific tasks include:

• Co-designing the methodological framework and preparing a participatory ethnographic guide for the identification and evaluation of agroecological and social inclusion good practices across different European research "Hubs" (Task 7.1).
• Executing data collection and mapping of good practices using qualitative techniques, such as semi-structured interviews and participant observation, analysing limitations and success factors (Task 7.2).
• Dinamising and facilitating creative co-creation workshops with the community for the production of a "Slow-Tech Fanzine" as an activist and local knowledge transfer tool (Task 7.4).
• Supporting the sociological conceptualisation and collaborative production of an ethnographic documentary focused on business model innovation in agriculture (Task 7.3).
• Assisting in the analysis of the collected information to facilitate the replication and scalability of these sustainable initiatives in other socio-economic contexts.

The contract will be an 11-month fixed-term and part-time (75%) contract, starting in February 2027.

• Education:Holding a PhD degree in Environmental Sciences (or Environmental Science and Technology), Geography, Social Sciences or related disciplines, with an interdisciplinary orientation towards the study of agri-food systems.
• Experience: 5 or more years of experience in practices and content related to the research field.
• Specific knowledge:
  • Knowledge of European public policies in agriculture and rural development, with special emphasis on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS).
  • Ability to translate qualitative research results and local practices into recommendations, transition scenarios and policy narratives aimed at decision-making at local, regional and European levels.
  • Theoretical and analytical mastery of political ecology, political economy and critical agrarian studies applied to agri-food systems and rural transformation.
  • Advanced knowledge in human-environmental geography and Science and Technology Studies (STS) for addressing socio-ecological challenges.
  • Demonstrable expertise in qualitative research methodologies, participatory ethnographic design, social foresight techniques and community co-creation processes.
  • Deep understanding of agroecological sustainability indicators and the dynamics determining the viability of the European agricultural sector.
  • Mastery of qualitative data analysis software (ATLAS.ti, NVivo or MAXQDA) and advanced use of office tools, bibliographic managers and digital collaborative work environments and document management (such as Basecamp, Miro or similar) necessary for network coordination and workshop facilitation.
  • Knowledge of European public policies in agriculture and rural development, with special emphasis on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS).
• Languages:
  • Oral and written communication skills in both Catalan and Spanish.
  • English language skills to at least CEFR level B2, or First Certificate equivalent.

Also of interest

• Ability to work in a team and experience in the field as an active participant.
• Knowledge of the UOC's educational model.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Languages CATALAN Level Excellent

Languages SPANISH Level Excellent

Research Field Agricultural sciences Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Additional Information

The contract will be an 11-month fixed-term and part-time (75%) contract, starting in February 2027.

• Friday afternoons off.
• Flexibility: our open working model combines remote working with work on-site, depending on organizational needs and the nature of the tasks involved.
• Each year you'll have 37 days of paid time off (24 days of vacation, 9 personal leave days and 4 UOC holidays). And you'll be able to work reduced summer hours (35 hours a week), subject to organizational requirements.
• You'll be provided with the computer equipment and ergonomic material you need to work both from home and on site at the UOC.
• Training: professional development training is provided regularly.
• Well-being: medical service, psychological help service, physiotherapy service, and health promotion activities.

Reasons to choose the UOC

• Shared purpose: you'll be working for and championing access to quality higher education that enables people to transform their lives.
• Culture of values: we’re driven by excellence, passion, non-conformity, kindness and commitment, but what makes us unique is the people who comprise the UOC. We value positive attitudes and teamwork, we care for talent and we promote a working environment based on respect and relatability.
• Continual innovation: you'll be joining a university with an innovative, people-centred educational model, and a hub of impactful, interdisciplinary applied research.
• Real impact: you'll be part of a community that is driven by its mission, where it will be possible for your work to directly make a difference for society.

Selection process

Our commitment to diversity

At the UOC, our differences make us stronger. We aim to recruit the best talent while ensuring equal opportunities, without distinction based on gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other condition. If you have specific needs, please inform the selection team.

Our selection processes are based on OTM-R principles (open, transparent and merit-based), and we hold the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) certification.

Funded by the European Union (101294152)