Postdoctoral Researcher in Livestock Systems

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join an international research project on the sustainability assessment of current and future livestock systems: PATHWAYS (www.pathways-project.com). This 6-month post offers a unique opportunity to work within an experienced and impactful team, collaborating with those promoting innovations in livestock supply chains to delineate and evaluate credible, relevant, and timely approaches for the sustainable development of the livestock sector in Europe.

In this delivery-focused role, you will lead a central project output: synthesising and combining results from existing model-based sustainability assessments (e.g. LCA, spatial and scenario analyses) to identify optimal transition pathways and to set out a forward-looking research agenda for sustainable livestock in Europe. You will also help design and facilitate structured stakeholder/scientific workshops to review and refine these findings.

You will be responsible for integrating and interpreting existing sustainability assessment outputs, and for the analysis and publication of data on innovative livestock practices. Across these activities you will prepare findings for peer-reviewed publication and project deliverables, contribute to future grant applications, and liaise with participants and organisations across the agri-food sector in Europe.

This post is particularly suited to researchers with strong analytical and organisational skills, and a career ambition to develop a profile in applied food systems research. We are particularly seeking to recruit an individual who shares our values of integrating farmers, supply chain actors, NGOs, policymakers, and citizens within the research process to address real-life needs, problems, and opportunities.

Informal discussions are welcome; please contact Principal Investigator Dr Laurence Smith (l.g.smith@reading.ac.uk).

We welcome applications from both external and internal candidates. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role can be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Internal candidates should discuss this with their line manager prior to applying.

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.