Post-doctoral Research Fellow, SEI

Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Swedish Forestry Policy Analysis SEI is looking for a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the project Mistra-SWECIA, to be based at the Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Kind of employment Full-time project employment for twelve months initially, starting on 1 September 2009 or as soon as possible thereafter. Possibility of extension contingent on funding availability. Trial period: 6 months. Background Mistra-SWECIA a four-year research programme that started on 1 January 2008. The aim of Mistra-SWECIA is to develop a knowledge base in Sweden that allows public and private stakeholders to make informed decisions about adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The knowledge base relies on advanced analysis and consistent assessment of climate, economy and impacts, but its development also involves also a strong line of research on the adaptation process itself: focusing on learning from experience, putting new knowledge into use, identifying bottlenecks and opportunities. SEI leads this latter line of research, and its main analytical tool are the case studies on Mistra-SWECIA. The first case study focused on the Stockholm region; the second one, starting this year, focuses on the Swedish forestry sector. General tasks The purpose of developing and implementing policy for adaptation is to promote and facilitate actions that reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience. In everyday policymaking, however, reducing vulnerability to future climatic stress is one of many goals. Policy integration seeks to offer a process for addressing conflicts in the face of uncertainty; it depends on the ability to understand the reasons for conflicting views amongst stakeholders. Policy analysis is instrumental in informing this process. The research of the post-doctoral research fellow will seek to understand what the opportunities and barriers are for policy integration aimed at improving the adaptive capabilities of the Swedish forestry sector. Taking on a particular subset of these problems in further detail within the Mistra-SWECIA case study, the research will also aim to identify opportunities to remove or overcome barriers, and to provide recommendations on how to enhance policy integration. With respect to adaptation to climate change, it will be crucial to understand what factors promote and hinder the integration of climate risks and uncertainties into policy processes and decision-making. The research will be carried out within an interdisciplinary project team at SEI and Linköping University, which is part of a broader programme involving various other Swedish research groups. The position is based at SEI in Stockholm and will involve some travel within Sweden (to conduct the research and to attend project meetings) and occasional trips abroad (e.g. to present results at international scientific conferences). Read more at: http://www.universitetsjobb.se/index.php?page=advert&advertid=1936