Research Fellow in Socio-ecological Resilience

This position is supported by the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Newton-SEA Research Partnerships project that will evaluate socio-ecological resilience in mangroves in Vietnam. The project will focus on the Red River Delta in Vietnam, one of the country’s major agricultural regions and where a third of the population lives. The mangroves here provide a range of goods and services, from carbon storage and storm protection, to food and materials for local communities. However, increasing occurrences of typhoons, storm surges and sea level rise, along with the construction of sea dykes, deforestation and reforestation have all contributed to a changing biophysical and socio-economic environment. This research project will combine social research methods on livelihoods and scenario evaluation, with ecology, remote sensing and Geographical Information System approaches to evaluate socio-ecological resilience in Vietnamese mangroves and explore management options that maintain resilience and enhance the delivery of benefits and services across multiple scales.

Specifically this role will evaluate livelihood trajectories in local communities in mangrove socio-ecological systems and the role of ecosystem services, and contribute to analysis of socio-ecological resilience in mangrove systems and the outcomes for ecosystem services. You will have a first degree in an environmental/social sciences discipline and have a PhD (or be close to completion) in Environment and Development or a related discipline. You will also have skills in livelihood analysis and participatory field methods, including semi-structured interviewing and facilitating community focus groups, and familiarity with the use of Geographical Information Systems. This post is based in Leeds, with international travel.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Claire Quinn

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 8700, email: c.h.quinn@leeds.ac.uk