- Job number: FAC01990
- Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
- Posting End Date: 01-Dec-2024
- Location: Stirling Campus
- Grade: Grade7 ÂŁ37,999 – ÂŁ45,163 p.a.
- Faculty/Service: Faculty of Natural Sciences
Post Details
* X2 Positions Available*
Full time
Fixed term for up to 24 months
The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 01 December 2024.
Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 12 December 2024.
There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.
For the purposes of sponsorship, this role may be eligible for sponsorship depending on candidate circumstances and is a postdoctoral role under SOC code 2119.
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.
The Post
Two postdoctoral research fellow positions are available at the University of Stirling.
Position 1
To work in the research group of Dr Brad Duthie, Prof Nils Bunnefeld, and Dr Conor McKeown on the UKRI cross research council responsive mode pilot scheme project entitled, “Ecological Knowledge Games” (EcoKnowGames). The post will be employed on an 24 month fixed term contract.
Position 2
To work in the research group of Dr Brad Duthie, Prof Nils Bunnefeld, Dr Diana Valero (James Hutton Institute), and Dr Yuan Pan (King’s College London) on the UKRI cross research council responsive mode pilot scheme project entitled, “Ecological Knowledge Games” (EcoKnowGames). The post will be employed on an 24 month fixed term contract.
How humans collectively respond to environmental change will ultimately determine the degree to which many global challenges of the 21st century are successfully met. Decision-makers must urgently tackle these global challenges, which are reflected across multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including conserving biodiversity (SDGs 14 & 15), ensuring food and water security (SDG 2, 3 & 6), and responding to climate change (SDGs 7 & 13). Finding effective SDG solutions is critical but often hindered by the undesirable risk, high cost, and long timescale of their implementation. Testing proposed solutions that rely on large-scale or long-term social coordination or collective action is often intractable in real systems. If solutions could instead be tested with real people in realistic virtual worlds, their effectiveness could be evaluated risk free and at low cost through the development of suitable knowledge games.
The EcoKnowGames project will demonstrate the true inter-disciplinary potential of ecological knowledge games, which will include open-source, community-driven, accessible game software that applies game design and artwork from the humanities to data collection and modelling across the natural and social sciences, thereby creating a new tool for data collection, SDGs problem-solving, and human enrichment through a new kind of medium.
Additional Information
Whilst submitting the online application required by the University, applicants should also submit:
- A curriculum vitae
- 1 page covering letter, the details of two referees and a statement outlining:
- Why they are interested in the particular project
- Why they are ideally suited for the project
Candidates are invited to make informal enquiries contacting Dr Brad Duthie,
Email: alexander.duthie@stir.ac.uk
Tel: 07561 408101
Description of Duties
Position 1
The post-holder will develop new methods for analysing data collected from knowledge games and integrating them into social-ecological models. The post-holder will work with existing datasets and play an active role in developing a new knowledge game for data collection and integration with new agent-based modelling software. Principally, this will involve the following activities:
- Writing new code for data analysis and software integrating knowledge game data and agent-based models
- Leading on peer-reviewed publications
- Writing reports (e.g., to the funder)
- Collaborating with the team at the University of Stirling, James Hutton Institute, King’s College London and the company developing the game on broader project goals
- Statistical data analysis
- Attending research team meetings
- Attending conferences and workshops on games
- Having regular meetings with the project leader (Brad Duthie) and the wider EcoKnowGames team
Position 2
The post-holder will facilitate stakeholder workshops, collect survey data and analyse data collected from knowledge games to investigate the costs, benefits, and consistencies across different methodologies. A key goal will be to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of using knowledge games to make inferences about player motivations and values, especially with respect to SDGs. The post-holder will work closely with team members across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities and contribute to the development of new knowledge games for testing hypotheses in the social sciences. Principally, this post will involve the following activities:
- Facilitating workshops and surveys with stakeholder groups in relation to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Leading on peer-reviewed publications
- Writing reports (e.g. to funder)
- Collaborating with the team at the University of Stirling, James Hutton Institute, King’s College London and the company developing the game on broader project goals
- Statistical data analysis of game and survey data
- Attending research team meetings
- Attending conferences and workshops on games
- Having regular meetings with the project leader (Brad Duthie) and the wider EcoKnowGames team
Essential Criteria
Position 1
Qualifications:
- A PHD (or nearing completion) in quantitative biology, computer science, statistics, or a closely related field
Research:
- Evidence of being able to conduct research independently
- Evidence of research experience in quantitative study designs and data analysis
- Evidence of being able to draft papers for publication and report-writing
Skills, Attitude, and Behavioural:
- Evidence of good project management skills
- Proven ability to interact effectively with a range of colleagues
- Proven ability in programming, modelling and data analysis
- Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
- Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work independently
- Time management skills including ability to prioritise workload
- Trustworthy and reliable
Position 2
Qualifications:
- A PHD (or nearing completion) in social sciences or economics or closely related field
Research:
- Evidence of being able to conduct research independently
- Evidence of research experience using surveys and stakeholder groups
- Evidence of being able to draft papers for publication and report-writing
Skills, Attitude, and Behavioural:
- Evidence of good project management skills
- Proven ability to interact effectively with a range of colleagues
- Proven ability in working with stakeholder groups and facilitating meetings
- Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
- Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work independently
- Time management skills including ability to prioritise workload
- Trustworthy and reliable
Desirable Criteria
- Experience in video game development
- Experience using games in research
- Experience of working in interdisciplinary teams
Behaviours and Competencies
The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.
- Managing self and personal skills
Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly. - Delivering excellent service
Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards. - Finding solutions
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation. - Embracing change
Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles. - Using resources effectively
Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets. - Engaging with the wider context
Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values. - Developing self and others
Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential. - Working together
Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process. - Achieving Results
Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.
The University
The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society.
The University has 18,500+ students globally and employs 1,800 staff, with more than 140 nationalities represented on our scenic central Scotland campus. Our campus environment is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world, and our sports facilities rank first in the UK and top five in the world (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), reflecting our long-standing designation as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.
We are shortlisted for University of the Year 2024 at the Times Higher Education Awards and are proud holders of a Silver award from the Athena Swan Charter, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. We have an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings and are ranked top 30 in the UK for postgraduate teaching and learning (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024). In recognition of our excellence in business education, we are accredited by AACSB International.
Eighty-seven per cent of our research has an outstanding or very considerable impact on society, with more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021), and we have twice been recognised with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize; for our Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and our Institute of Aquaculture (2019).
Alongside partners, the University spearheads the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – which will deliver three major University-led projects: the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub, Scotland’s International Environment Centre, and the Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub. We are also a central partner in the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
