Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Exeter; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Support for flexible working hours

Job summary

The University of Exeter seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Net+ Centre, a UKRI-funded initiative focused on climate solutions and health. The role runs from 01/01/2027 to 30/09/2029 with hybrid working and a starting salary of £44,352 on Grade F.

The successful candidate will lead mixed-methods research on resilient food systems and sustainable nutrition, participate in evidence reviews, and engage with public and stakeholder audiences to translate findings into policy and

Qualifications

• Mixed-methods researcher with experience in resilient food systems/sustainable nutrition research.
• Strong evidence synthesis skills and ability to engage with public and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver high-quality research within the Net+ Centre.
• Conduct reviews of evidence on climate change and nutrition in the UK, including media analysis or interviews.
• Contribute to capacity building, engagement, and outreach activities; co-organise Leadership Academy meetings and PhD summer schools.
• Develop research objectives, seek funding, and produce academic and policy outputs.
• Collaborate across disciplines and supervise researchers as needed.

Skills

Mixed-methods research

Evidence synthesis

Public engagement

Stakeholder engagement

Education

PhD in food systems or sustainable nutrition

Job description

About The Role

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

ThisUKRI-fundedfull-timepost is available from01/01/2027on afixed-term basis until 30/09/2029.

The starting salary will be from £44,352 on Grade F,dependent on knowledge, skills and experience.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements. Hybrid working is an option for this role.

The Role

We are looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions (Net+ Centre). The Net+ Centre launched on the 1st of October 2024. This is a five-year research centre funded by UKRI, led by the University of Exeter alongside core partners at the UK Health Security Agency, The National Trust, and Forest Research (with many other partners across sectors and the UK).

The key aim of the Net+ Centre is to establish interdisciplinary research infrastructure, partnerships, and capacity to proactively deliver novel, impactful research on climate change and health, with a focus on environmental-social-health inequalities. Key topics include resilient green and blue infrastructure, resilient urban environments, and resilient food systems.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will be based at the Faculty of Environment, Science, and Economy on the Exeter campus of the University of Exeter. They will be working closely with Net+ colleagues in the University of Exeter Medical School in the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences at both the Penryn and St Luke’s campuses, as well as have opportunities to collaborate with the wider Net+ network across the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

We are looking for a mixed-methods researcher with experience working on resilient food systems/sustainable nutrition research questions, with strong evidence synthesis skills, and an ability for public and stakeholder engagement to co-produce positive impacts from research. The role will involve key tasks as part of the centre, as well as an opportunity to develop your own research interests and take part in research across the Net+ centre. The successful applicant will help to plan and deliver high-quality research, particularly feeding into the Centre’s objective of investigating how future food systems can be climate-resilient and healthy for all.

Key tasks include a review of evidence on the impact of climate change on nutrition in the UK, which may involve both peer-reviewed academic literature, as well as a media analysis, and/or key informant interviews. In addition, your role will involve contributing to capacity building, engagement, and outreach activities in the centre, such as co-organising and facilitating activities at the Centre’s Leadership Academy residential meetings, PhD summer schools, and working with STEM Learning to support STEM Ambassadors or curriculum development.

About You

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects, and proposals; identify sources of research funding to contribute to the process of securing funds; and produce a range of academic and policy-relevant outputs, including presentations for conferences and other events. Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or an equivalent qualification/experience in food systems or sustainable nutrition research, and have sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop/follow the research programmes and methodologies of the Net+ Centre.

The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, across disciplines and supervise the work of others where necessary. They will have the capacity to support engagement, involvement, and dissemination events and be motivated to communicate with non-academic audiences.

Further information

Please contact Dr Kerry Ann Brown, [e-mail]

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russell Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

What we can offer you:

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
• Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy;
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon/Cornwall.

How we can help

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at [e-mail]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.