Job Title

Research Fellow - Examining Cellular Agriculture as a Just Transition to Environmentally, Economically and Socially Sustainable Food Systems.The experience expected from applicants, as well as additional skills and qualifications needed for this job are listed below.Location: Cirencester, GL7 6JSSalary : 32,982 - 39,347 per annum (34,133- 40,497 from 1 July 2025) pro rata for part timeFixed Term : Two Years full time 1.0 FTE (35hrs pw) or up to 3.5 years 0.5 FTE (17.5 hrs pw)The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is leading Work Package 6 of the CARMA (Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing) Hub Project, focused on developing novel foods through cellular agriculture. This involves the production of agricultural products from cell cultures using a combination of biotechnology, tissue engineering, molecular biology and synthetic biology to create and design new methods of producing proteins, fats, and tissues that would conventionally come from agriculture.Work Package 6, Engaging Public and Policy, aims to help guide CARMAs research efforts and challenge its assumptions by listening to wide-ranging perspectives from the general public and stakeholders.CARMA envisions a just transition to environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable food systems, which involves novel approaches to cultivated meat and other cellular agriculture products.We are looking for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with a background in the humanities and social sciences, specifically with knowledge in food systems thinking, citizens science, ethics and justice to examine and explore CARMAs vision.Key ResponsibilitiesThe role will focus on the following:Central to coordinating the project, directly involved in delivering social research and stakeholder engagement activities.Day-to-day project management, keeping close track of plans, and arranging weekly meetings between the Work Package Lead and other project partners and collaborators.Recruiting, conducting and analysing research participant focus groups, and organising stakeholder engagement activities including workshops.Lead, organise and manage stakeholder and citizens forums through a citizens science approach.Critically explore the question of a just transition within the cell-agricultural industry and sector.Review evidence of the state of knowledge, key gaps and areas under active debate with regard to the development of cultured meat.Support ongoing work to establish clear outcome indicators for the importance of proper citizen and stakeholder engagement within CARMA and the cell Ag sector in general.Contribute to research outputs including peer review publications, reports and conference presentations.Communicate and engage with wide ranging stakeholders including citizens, senior policymakers, and colleagues within CARMA.Deliver teaching at the RAU.Skills and QualificationsPhD in the humanities and/or social sciences, specifically with a background in food systems thinking, citizens science (knowledge in ethics and justice is desirable)In-depth knowledge of qualitative research methodologies, e.g. participatory action research, citizens scienceExperience of project managementIn-depth knowledge of food system thinkingExperience conducting qualitative research methods, e.g. interviews, focus groups, stakeholder analysisExperience of organising meetings, workshops, eventsAdvanced digital skills for organising and facilitating online meetingsTrack record writing reports for technical and lay audiencesGood critical thinking and intercultural communication skills, verbal and writtenTo ApplyIf you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the RAU, please click apply.Closing Date: 1 June 2025 with interviews on 11th June 2025The University is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunities Employer, and we particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the RAU at this level.TPBN1_UKTJ