We are seeking a highly motivated Early Stage Researchers (ESR) to undertake doctoral study and participate in a broad range of scientific and professional training as part of an H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network in Resourceful and Resilient Community Environmental Practice (RECOMS).
Click here to view ERS1 project objectives
The ESRs will be recruited by the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience(CAWR), Coventry University. CAWR is a University Research Centre, constituting a dedicated community of 50 plus researchers (early, mid-career and full professor) and support staff. We have an active and growing post-graduate population (including 33 doctoral students) and a dedicated research facility at Ryton Organic Gardens which boasts office space, lab facilities, avideo-editing suite and fully IT equipped meeting rooms. Established in 2014,CAWR represents a multi-million research investment by Coventry University. CAWR's research develops and integrates new knowledge on the social, cultural,political, environmental and economic dimensions of agroecological and hydrological processes, systems and practices. Specifically, this includes investigating the role that communities and collaborative forms of action play in developing resourcefulness and resilience. Research at CAWR encompasses a wide range of disciplines, philosophies, and methodologies.
Funded by the European Commission (2018-2022), RECOMS is comprised of a transdisciplinary consortium of scientists, practitioners and change agents from eleven public (universities and government researchcentres), private and non-profit organisations, located in six European Union countries: Austria, Belgium, England, Finland, Germany and The Netherlands. The purpose of RECOMSis to train 15 ESRs/ doctoral candidates in innovative, transdisciplinary and transformative approaches to promoting and facilitating resourceful and resilient community environmental practice. By delivering an advanced programme of training in both scientific and professional skills, RECOMS will enable ESRs to pursue an academic career or high-professional career in either the public, private or third sector (e.g.government, university, NGO, consultancy, business or charitable body). For further information on RECOMS and for a full list of the 15 ESR doctoral positions currently open for recruitment please see here:
The recruited ESRs will be engaged in a series of collaborative research and training activities and will be supported in pursuing a doctoral study project. If you are highly motivated; inspired by learning and undertaking innovative research, thinking and knowledge exchange across disciplines, institutional boundaries and wider society; and wish to be part of an advanced, international, network of creative change agents specialising in resourceful and resilient community environmental practice;then one of these ESR/PhD vacancies could be the ideal appointment for you.
Co-supervised by academic and non-academic partners, the RECOMS ESRs will be encouraged to critically,practically, and creatively explore the contribution and relationships between their individual doctoral study projects across three interconnecting research themes:
- Empowering and unlocking the potential of vulnerable communities to become more resourceful
- Strengthening the adaptive and transformative capacity of local groups through resourceful environmental practice as critical to building community resilience
- Encouraging a more just and inclusive approach to stimulating community resourcefulness by nurturing broader participation in resourceful environmental practices.
A core feature of the RECOMS programme - both with respect to informing the design and delivery of all the training, as well as enabling and maximising opportunities for knowledge exchange through research and associated outputs -will be the incorporation of a broad range of visual and creative research methods and modes of communication.
In order to be eligible to apply for this post applicants meet a set of essential criteria, including:
- Applicants must - at the start date of the employment contract [1st September 2018] - be an 'early stage researcher': they must be in the first four years of their research career and not have a doctoral degree.
- At the time of appointment by Coventry University applicants MUST NOT have resided in or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in England for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays,are not taken into account.
In order to be eligible for the PhD, applicants must meet the below criteria:
- A Masters degree in a relevant discipline, with a minimum of a merit profile: 60%overall module average and a minimum of a 60% dissertation mark
- Excellent English language proficiency both orally and in writing to derive the full benefit from the network training.
- As part of the PhD eligibility criteria, an IELTS English language test will be required prior to appointment (September 1st 2018), achieving an overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)
Applicants who are not eligible for the positions hosted by Coventry University are encouraged to consider applying for positions hosted by the other participating institutions. For further information on the full network of 15 ESR doctoral positions currently open for recruitment and the associated list of participating countries/ host institutions, please see here
The salary will be subject to exchange rate and dependent on circumstances as defined by funding body rules. Also, subject to eligibility an additional family allowance (6,000 euros total, divided across three years) may also be available.
The ESRs will be employed as full members of staff at Coventry University and will receive all the benefits available to Coventry University staff members as standard. They will also receive all the benefits provided for in the Marie Sklodowska Curie ITN fellowships regulations, including a highly competitive remuneration, living allowances and mobility expenses. Successful applicants will be enrolled for doctoral study at no additional cost.
In addition to being enrolled for doctoral study, appointed candidates will benefit from research collaboration within the RECOMS network, extensive joint training opportunities, and collaboration with non-academic organizations.
Applicants are permitted to apply for a maximum of three positions from across the total 15 RECOMS ESR vacancies. For information on the ESR positions hosted elsewhere in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany and The Netherlands) please see here.
As part of your application, please submit the following:
- a full CV,
- a motivation letter(maximum 2 pages)
- the names of two referees (to be called upon should you be shortlisted)
- proof of eligibility as an annex where relevant, including a) proof that you have no more experience than 4 years as a researcher, b) proof that you did not spend more than 12 months in the last 3 years in England, and c) further information on English language proficiency.
Please make a separate application for each position to which you are applying. Please take care to ensure that applications for individual ESR/PhD positions are submitted directly to the respective host institutions - only applications for the positions hosted by Coventry University should be submitted via the Coventry University recruitment portal.
Multiple applications(maximum: 3 positions) will not influence the selection chance in any particular project. Please mention on every application all ESR projects to which an application is being submitted.
Additional information:
Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview during April/May 2018. Where candidates are shortlisted for an interview they will be required to prepare a short doctoral study project research plan. Further information will be provided at the point of announcement of short-listing.
If you are shortlisted for interview, please note the panel will consist of Coventry University Group staff, and non-host institution RECOMS partners. Your application will be available to all panel members from submission for the purpose of assessing your suitability for the post.
For further information on the above advertised positions or on the RECOMS programme please contact: Dr Alex Franklin alex.franklin@coventry.ac.uk
More information can also be found via the following links:
- RECOMS project overview
- General information about the RECOMS project and the 15 ESR Fellow vacancies
- Overview of RECOMS training programme
- Frequently asked Questions (Recruitment FAQs)
- General information about the Marie Sklodowska Curie (MSCA) Innovative Training Network programme
For any other queries please contact: Dr Alex Franklin alex.franklin@coventry.ac.uk
Closing date: 1 March 2018
Click here to view the job description and person specification
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 765389
