PhD in Geographies of agricultural land use, with a focus on sustainability transitions and stakeholder decision making
Roskilde Universitet
- Roskilde, Sjælland
- Permanent
- Fuldtid
The PhD project should include the following aspects:
- How agricultural land users (farmers) arrive at decisions about land use and crop selection, and how this can be explained and modelled temporally and spatially, in the context of longitudinal empirical material collected in Danish agricultural landscapes.
- How decisions about land use and crop selection, including legume crops, constitute and are co-constituted by social, cultural, historical, economic and biophysical factors in the context of landscapes.
- How land use and crop decisions form part of value chains for agricultural products and other ecosystem services, and how transition to more sustainable crop and land use choices, specifically including legume crops, can be analysed.
- Establishing an improved understanding of the decision making competences and functional roles inhabited by farmers within modern society, within the landscape setting in which they operate, and in the context of historical trajectories of technological and social-ecological change and development.
The PhD position is an educational position, and the main tasks are in accordance with Chapter 3 in the Ministerial Order on the PhD Program at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws- and-regulations/education/files/engelsk-ph-d-bekendtgorelse.pdf). These tasks include writing a thesis, taking PhD courses, teaching in the department, and having a research stay at another (normally foreign) university or other institution.The PhD position forms part of the EU-Horizon funded project “Legendary” which aims to investigate how sustainable transitions in European Agriculture can be initiated and further advanced through improved crop choices involving increased growing of legume crops. The empirical material collected in the PhD project will be designed to address this aim while providing an empirical basis for asking further research questions decided by the PhD. The PhD will be responsible for collecting and analysing empirical material in the form of spatially explicit interview surveys with farmers and other stakeholders, supported by the research team led by the supervisor. Choice of cases, sampling of respondents and empirical methods etc. will be decided in collaboration between the supervisor and the PhD, and implemented by the PhD, to ensure that the empirical material is suited to resolving research questions posed by the wider research framework of the EU-horizon project as well as research questions decided by the PhD.Qualifications
Candidates must hold a master's degree or equivalent within geography, agroecology, environmental planning, nature management, landscape research, environmental studies or natural resource management.The candidate must have educational qualifications and/or professional experience in:
- Landscape management processes and methods in Denmark and/or Northern Europe.
- Public regulation and planning of rural land use.
- Methods for landscape analysis using GIS and other quantitative spatial analysis methods.
- Methods in nature management and/or landscape and restoration ecology
- Basic proficiency in Danish is required, as the research role involves frequent interaction with Danish speaking actors.
- Interview methods and/or methods for participatory facilitation of dialogue with land users.
- Analysis of land use and land cover change and persistence.
- A high degree of proficiency in writing academic English.
- Knowledge about the environmental history of Northern European rural landscapes.
- The role of public authorities in regulation and planning for rural land use.
- Cultural, ideological and social contexts for decision making in agriculture.
- Paradigms and theoretical formations within natural resource management and nature conservation.
- International cooperation about research and policy development.
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to:
- Relevant Master's degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/transparency-tools/qualifications-frameworks/other- qualifications-frameworks/danish-qf-for-higher-education?set_language=en&cl=en).
- Additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.
- Educational skills and any further professional qualifications.
- Grades at Master's program or equivalent.
- Quality and relevance of the project description.
- Quality and relevance of the methodical and theoretical choices.
- Consistency and coherence between the problem and methodological and theoretical choices.
- If the PhD project seems realistic and feasible.
- Ability to complete the PhD project.
- Relevance of the project to the profile of the Doctoral School.
You will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Society, Space and Technology program in the Doctoral School of People and Technology. The program is based on a multidisciplinary approach to research and spans technology, natural science, social sciences and the arts. The program connects the various disciplinary aspects of the research, for example, in relation to technology, resources and culture as the basis for the social production and reproduction of various research objects. This PhD is embedded within the TRANSITIONS research group focusing on the interaction between social development and the natural environment with a strong focus on sustainable development strategies and public involvement.Read more here [https://ruc.dk/en/phd-programme-society-space-and-technology].Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor, project leader Andreas Aagaard Christensen (anaach@ruc.dk), the head of the SST PhD program Jonas Egmose (+45 46743341 or mail jem@ruc.dk ), or PhD coordinator Anne Ebdrup (aebdrup@ruc.dk).Terms of employment
The employment is on full time, 37 hours per week and you will refer to the dean Bjarke Oxlund.
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.Application
To apply for the position go toOnly applications in English are accepted.Applications must include:1. Cover letter2. CV3. Documentation of education including grades from Master's programme or equivalent4. Masters thesis5. Full PhD project proposal6. Time schedule of the PhD project7. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publicationsPlease submit your application no later than May 1, 2024.Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.