Post-doctoral Fellow in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS).
The Department of Environment, Agriculture and Geography at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, seeks to appoint a highly qualified candidate with a strong interest in sustainable food systems for a full-time, 2-year funded post-doctoral fellow position in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS). The successful candidate will have the opportunity to apply for external funding agencies if they wish to continue their research at Bishop’s in subsequent years.
The SAFS Postdoctoral Fellow will undertake a program of original research under the supervision of Dr. Vivian Valencia (Research Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action) and Dr. Darren Bardati (Director of SAFS) and in collaboration with the SAFS faculty team (www.ubishops.ca/safs).
The successful candidate will join an ongoing research program to investigate how to foster a transformation towards more sustainable food systems. This program focuses on the study of ‘lighthouse’ farms, that is, extraordinary farms and farming systems that operate in ways that reduce ecological footprint, improve biodiversity conservation, increase the use of ecological processes for crop production, and integrate gender equity and social justice. The postdoc will conduct interdisciplinary research to answer research questions such as what are the conditions (e.g., environmental, institutional, and socio-economic) under which ‘lighthouse’ farms and farming systems develop, and how can we use lighthouse farms as the basis to co-design transformation pathways with diverse stakeholders to examine alternative agrifood system futures that are radically progressive yet proven to be attainable. This research may be conducted with farmers in Quebec and/or Latin America, particularly, in Mexico, Colombia, Cuba or Brazil. The candidate should specify in their research proposal if they have a preference for either of the aforementioned research locations, and experience working there.
Key responsibilities:
Under the supervision of Drs. Valencia and Bardati, the selected candidate will be responsible for:
- Research conceptualization
- collection of quantitative and qualitative data (e.g., surveys, farm assessments, interviews, workshops),
- Data analysis
- Report writing in English
- Publication in peer-reviewed journals and other non-scientific outlets (e.g., blogs, newspaper articles)
Required:
- PhD in relevant natural or social sciences fields such as agroecology, agricultural sciences, rural sociology, geography, environmental resource management, or related fields
- Experience in interdisciplinary work
- A proven track record demonstrating research skills
- Experience in conducting field work with farm and/or food system actors
- Experience in collecting and analyzing social and/or environmental data
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Strong scientific writing and communication skills and a track record of academic publications
- Interest to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary research team
- Ability to travel
- English language proficiency
Recommended:
- Experience in transdisciplinary work
- Experience in statistics
- Working French communication skills if field work is conducted in Quebec
- Working Spanish or Portuguese communication skills if field work is conducted in Latin America
This position will be based at the Department of Environment, Agriculture, and Geography at Bishop’s University, located in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. The region is renowned for its agro-tourism, organic and community-supported food production, and a growing culture of entrepreneurship within the context of sustainable agriculture. Bishop’s 500-acre campus includes a new 140-acre Educational Farm (www.ubishops.ca/farm), which is currently under development. The farm will be a showpiece of sustainable agriculture design, and serve as the setting for the SAFS programs’ practical teaching and research projects.
Bishop’s University observes an equal access employment in public bodies for women, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, Indigenous and disabled people (including the possibility of accommodation during the selection process). Candidates who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the process may contact Human Resources at HR@ubishops.ca. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, but all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
The salary is $45 000/year, and the successful applicant is expected to start September 1, 2023, or before. Application packages, include:
- cover letter
- curriculum vitae
- one research statement (maximum four pages) addressing (1) research achievements and (2) proposal for what research the candidate would like to conduct under this postdoctoral fellowship
- one writing sample (first authored)
- names and contact information of three referees who are willing to be contacted
All documents must be sent by email as one PDF file, labelled by last name-Postdoc (e.g., SmithPostdoc.pdf) to Jiayi Gu at jgu@ubishops.ca. Review of applications will begin on May 20, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Bishop’s University is located on the traditional territory of the Abenaki people.
Vivian Valencia, PhD
Research Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action
Bishop’s University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianvalencia/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vivian_Valencia
@vivi817
