Research Fellow

The Post * X5 Positions Available * The Partnership Project Each post is part of FORTH20: a UK Research and Innovation Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) project, focused on the Forth Water Basin, and offering services to support innovation through collaboration. The Partnership is between multiple Universities/Research Institutes and stakeholders including Scottish Government, Scottish Water and SEPA. Forth20 seeks to make a positive difference to the health and wealth of businesses, communities, and natural ecosystems. Year 1 fostered the collaborative generation of new ideas and priorities. Year 2 used those ideas to inform the commissioning of stakeholder-academic projects. Year 3 focuses on project delivery: ensuring that our priorities and projects translate into a coherent set of positive outcomes. The Roles We are seeking five experienced and highly motivated Research Fellows to join the Forth20 team for the delivery phase of the project. Each Research Fellow will support the delivery plan produced by one work package but also work as part of a team of Fellows to support cross-package priorities. Fellows will be essential to key aspects of this work including: to answer work package research questions, foster stakeholder/partner engagement, and co-produce research outputs in a variety of formats for different audiences. Overarching questions regard how to: Encourage policy change. Understand policymaking ‘bottlenecks’ and anticipate new windows of opportunity for policy change. Ensure that water remains high on policy and planning agendas, and that citizens and communities play a meaningful role Rethink how we conceptualise and measure value. Support the development of a multidimensional value framework and decision-making tool to capture the economic, environmental, social, emotional, and functional value of water for communities Encourage cross-industry innovation. Understand best practice in innovation in water-based areas including community energy, tourism initiatives, industry skills need, and business model optimisation. Assist with developing and analysing the ‘water business survey’ Encourage place-based approaches. Identify new opportunities for place-based engagement with nature, such as to focus on the health and wellbeing value of proximity to water (‘blue spaces’) or to encourage oral histories of place that centre water Support storytelling and stories. Collect and interpret underrepresented stories of the cultural and natural heritage of water in the Forth, using creative and participatory methods to inform shared understandings and shape more inclusive, future-oriented water narratives Broader cross-cutting priorities focus on how to relate water to the pursuit of new opportunities to combine sustainable economic growth and natural resources management, which requires routine and meaningful collaboration from policymakers and planners, land and business owners, communities, and those responsible for protecting our natural capital. We also engage with initiatives to prevent social, economic, and natural harms associated with flooding, water scarcity, and pollution. As such, while the overarching questions would benefit from research experience in the study of public policy, economics, management, communication, and heritage, we would also value wider postdoctoral research backgrounds that would be valuable to collaboration, boundary spanning, and knowledge brokerage. Description of Duties Grade 7 Supporting research, including rapid reviews and new data collection, using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods Analysing policy and policy processes relevant to water Supporting the innovation/policy challenge ‘labs’ and capacity building programme Regular communication with research partners, stakeholders and research participants Managing multiple research objectives and deadlines as part of a research team Co-authorship of high-quality reports, presentations to academic and stakeholder conferences, journal articles, and blog posts or other summaries Attending FORTH20 regular meetings and engaging in routine knowledge exchange with the wider LPIP network Working closely with the Principal Investigator, Work Package leads, and project management and communications team (such as via attendance at regular planning meetings) Grade 8 Leading research, including rapid reviews and new data collection, using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods Leading the analysis of policy and policy processes relevant to water Supporting or leading the innovation/policy challenge ‘labs’ and capacity building programme Regular communication with research partners, stakeholders and research participants Managing multiple research objectives and deadlines as part of a research team Co-authorship of high-quality reports, presentations to academic and stakeholder conferences, journal articles, and blog posts or other summaries (often as the main author) Representing FORTH20 at regular meetings and knowledge exchange with the wider LPIP network Working closely with the Principal Investigator, Work Package leads, and project management and communications team (such as via attendance at regular planning meetings) Essential Criteria Grade 7 Qualifications PhD in a relevant discipline, such as public policy (political science), economics, management, social innovation. public health research, communication, and heritage (or extensive research and knowledge exchange experience to a demonstrated equivalent level) Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Attributes Experience of conducting high quality research, independently and collaboratively, within strict timescales Experience of producing original research and high-quality publications, including significant outputs of internationally excellent standing Experience of conducting rapid reviews, systematic reviews, or qualitative systematic reviews as part of a team Experience of effective collection, analysis, and management of data Experience of effective presentation of research to different audiences, including the ability to engage with policy and practice discussions Experience of developing and delivering knowledge exchange activities Have excellent collaboration skills with a diverse range of research partners. Be comfortable talking to a wide range of other stakeholders including policymakers Have strong attention to detail, including excellent organisation and planning skills, and experience in prioritising multiple tasks and meeting significant deadlines Be able to critically assess, interpret and evaluate the outcomes of research Have excellent communication (written and verbal) and other research dissemination skills, including presentation and social media skills Be skilled in communicating complex and conceptual ideas to those without specialist knowledge in the field Interpersonal skills, to contribute to a collaborative and respectful research and practice team Grade 8 Qualifications PhD in a relevant discipline, such as public policy (political science), economics, management, social innovation. public health research, communication, and heritage (or extensive research and knowledge exchange experience to a demonstrated equivalent level) Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Attributes Experience of leading high quality research projects, independently and collaboratively, within strict timescales Experience of leading the production of original research and high-quality publications, including significant outputs of internationally excellent standing Experience of managing or conducting rapid reviews, systematic reviews, or qualitative systematic reviews as part of a team Experience of effective collection, analysis, and management of data Experience of effective presentation of research to different audiences, including the ability to engage with policy and practice discussions Experience of developing and delivering knowledge exchange activities The ability to lead as well as contribute to research projects Have excellent collaboration skills with a diverse range of research partners. Be comfortable talking to a wide range of other stakeholders including policymakers Have strong attention to detail, including excellent organisation and planning skills, and experience in prioritising multiple tasks and meeting significant deadlines Be able to critically assess, interpret and evaluate the outcomes of research Have excellent communication (written and verbal) and other research dissemination skills, including presentation and social media skills Desirable Criteria Grade 7/8 Qualifications Professional qualification in a place-based or wellbeing role Knowledge, Skills & Experience Experience of co-production in research and knowledge exchange Proficiency in qualitative and creative research methods. Familiarity with arts-based methods such as participatory mapping, visual storytelling, or co-creation is desirable Experience in synthesising multidisciplinary literatures to measure value beyond monetary terms, designing and testing analytical tools with communities, and survey design and analysis Experience of facilitating the inclusion of diverse sources of knowledge, ideas, and perspectives Expertise in the study of social marginalisation and its relevance to policy change, such as in relation to women, racialized or minoritized communities, persons with disabilities, and/ or people who identify as 2SLGBTQ Additional Information *x5 Positions Available* Full time or Part time (please note in your in your application letter, the working arrangements you wish to undertake) Fixed term until 31 December 2026 Grade 7: £38,784 - £46,049 p.a. pro - rata or Grade 8: £47,389 - £56,535 p.a. pro-rata The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 02 December 2025. Interviews are expected to take place on Friday 12 December 2025. There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK. This role is not eligible for sponsorship due to contract length. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK. Expected start date - as soon as possible. The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity. For a full description of duties and essential/desirable criteria please click the apply button, which will take you directly to the University Website.

Location: Stirling, GB

Posted Date: 11/16/2025