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About us

This 4-year Research Associate position sits within the European Research Council-funded project ‘AdaptAIR: Climate Adaptation through Artificial Ice Reservoirs in the Himalayas’. This project explores the social, cultural and environmental context of the deployment of Artificial Ice Reservoirs (AIRS) as water management tools in the Himalayan cold desert regions, in the context of rapidly retreating glaciers. Working with partner Acres of Ice (acresofice.com), the project combines high-resolution climate, glacier and hydrological modelling with approaches from anthropology, history and critical agrarian studies to understand water use and agrarian change in the region, and how AIRs affect this. The project works across case studies in Ladakh, Spiti, and possibly Nepal.


About the role

This role will use qualitative and some minimal quantitative research methods to explore agrarian change and rural development vis-à-vis climate and environmental change in Himalayan mountain regions. Specifically, this role explores how rural mountain communities are experiencing changing agricultural practices, declining water availability, livelihood diversification, increased tourism and changing socio-cultural relations. You will conduct household surveys which involve some quantitative data and significant qualitative data to explore changing livelihoods in particular villages in each region. You will also undertake further interviews and focus groups to understand specific trends and patterns more deeply. You will work alongside a post doc focused on visual qualitative methods and ensure methods are complementary. You will prioritise research is community-engaged at all stages of the project, including liaising with community organisations. You will be sensitive to conducting research in Himalayan socio-cultural contexts. You will also be comfortable working in remote, cold and rural Himalayan regions with limited connectivity and facilities. You will conduct research in rugged, outdoor environments which may involve hill walking on difficult terrain.


You will contribute to outputs which may include project reports and academic publications, as well as impact-related work such as policy briefings, exhibitions at a COP and media work. Your work will contribute to discussions about agrarian transition among high mountain communities and rural climate adaptation. You will also work in an interdisciplinary team including post docs, PhD students, partners and the four PIs to contribute to interdisciplinary outputs exploring how climate adaptation in mountain regions and beyond can be improved.


You will be supervised by, and work closely with, PI Nithya Natarajan (background in agrarian studies) at King’s College, London. The project will also entail working closely with a colleague at the University of Guelph, and scientists and social scientists in the UK and India. The role will be based in London, but will require fieldwork in Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and possibly Nepal for extended periods. Your work will contribute directly to the aims of AdaptAIR, and you will be encouraged to develop your own research agenda.


This is a full time post, and you will be offered an a fixed term contract for four years.


Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.


About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:


Essential criteria

  1. PhD qualified in geography, international development, anthropology, sociology or a related area, or PhD near completion
  2. * Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. Should the successful candidate be awaiting the award of their PhD, the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spinal point 30 with the title of Research Assistant until confirmation of the award of the PhD has been received. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6, spine point 31.
  3. Proficiency in debates and discussions on agrarian change, rural development and/or livelihood studies
  4. Experience of undertaking qualitative and/or mixed methods field research including household surveys and interviews
  5. Experience of research in the Global South
  6. Fluency in English and Hindi
  7. Willingness to spend extended periods conducting fieldwork in remote environments across Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and potentially Nepal
  8. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research findings at conferences, and represents the research team at meetings
  9. Ability to work as part of an international, interdisciplinary team


Desirable criteria

  1. Ability to work across different disciplinary traditions.
  2. Enthusiasm for rural, outdoor research in remote regions.
  3. Knowledge of at least one regional language (for example Ladakhi, or the regional languages of the Spiti Valley in India)


Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.


Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.


Further information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.


The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.


We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.


When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.


We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.


Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant’s own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.


We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.


We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.


To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.