Researcher/teacher in environmental communication focusing on agriculture

The Department of Urban and Rural Development at SLU offers a strong social science research environment in the subjects of rural development, environmental communication, landscape architecture and agrarian history. The Division of Environmental Communication is now looking for a new colleague with an interest in communication issues in the context of agriculture and food production to contribute to both our research and education. Work related to communication aspects of agriculture and food production has always been an important part of the division’s activities; a part that we would now like to develop further.

At the division, we investigate the communicative aspects of environmental and sustainability issues. We consider communication as the joint construction of meaning rather than as the transmission of information, and conduct primarily qualitative social science research concerned with themes such as legitimacy, participation, power, resistance, conflict and learning in decision-making and change processes from a communication perspective. Our research spans a wide range of contexts such as nature conservation, forestry, food production, climate change, game management, mining and the built environment.

In addition to our international, two-year Masters programme ”Environmental Communication and Management”, we are responsible for a number of other courses in collaboration with other departments at SLU and Uppsala University.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Duties:
Tasks include approximately 50% research and 50% teaching.

The successful candidate will contribute to research in ongoing projects such as Sustainimal and Mistra Food Futures. Research-related tasks include, for example, interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues at other departments and organisations, data collection, analysis and write-up, and sharing of the findings. The development of new research proposals, particularly related to questions of agriculture and food production, together with colleagues will be an important part of your work. You will also contribute to our teaching in the course “Projektledning och kommunikation i den agrara sektorn” https://student.slu.se/studier/kurser-och-program/kurssok/kurs/LB0097/10113.2223/Projekt-och-kommunikation-i-den-agrara-sektorn/ and/or to the courses within our Masters programme “Environmental Communication and Management”. Work will also include active participation in academic activities at the department, to help build up environmental communication as a research field. Tasks will be developed together with the postholder, based on your qualifications and experience.

Qualifications:
We are looking for a highly motivated, proactive and creative new colleague with a PhD degree and a strong background in a relevant social science (such as sociology, political sciences, human geography or communication science), as well as experience in theoretically grounded, qualitative empirical research – preferably with a focus on communication aspects of agricultural issues. We expect the candidate to be strong in both written and spoken English. As much of the empirical work will take place in Sweden and some of teaching will be in Swedish, Swedish language skills are desirable. Teaching and supervision experience is desirable, as is the proven ability to publish in international journals and to write research proposals. Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as the ability to work in teams as well as independently. 

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Fixed term employment 360 days with the possibility of extension.

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
According to agreement.

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2023-03-12, use the button below.



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se