King's College London
Research Associate
London
£45k – £47.4k/yr
Posted 2 days ago
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Research Associate
Research Associate (AdaptAIR Project) – King’s College London
About the Project
This 4-year Research Associate position is funded by the European Research Council and integrated into the project ‘AdaptAIR: Climate Adaptation through Artificial Ice Reservoirs in the Himalayas’.
Project Overview
- Explores the social, cultural, and environmental impacts of Artificial Ice Reservoirs (AIRs) in Himalayan cold desert regions amid rapidly retreating glaciers.
- Combines:
- High-resolution climate, glacier, and hydrological modelling
- Anthropological, historical, and critical agrarian studies approaches
- Focuses on water management, agrarian change, and climate adaptation in Ladakh, Spiti, and potentially Nepal.
- Partners with Acres of Ice (acresofice.com).
About the Role
The role involves qualitative (and minimal quantitative) field research to investigate:
- Agrarian change in Himalayan mountain regions
- Impacts of climate and environmental shifts (e.g., declining water availability, shifting agricultural practices, tourism growth, livelihood diversification)
- Socio-cultural adjustments in rural mountain communities
Key Responsibilities
Fieldwork & Methodologies
- Conduct household surveys (quantitative and qualitative data)
- Perform interviews and focus groups to analyze livelihood trends across study villages
- Collaborate with a postdoctoral colleague specialising in visual qualitative methods
- Engage with community organizations for community-aware, ethically sensitive research
- Work in remote, rugged Himalayan terrain with limited infrastructure, including:
- Hill walking on challenging landscapes
- Fieldwork in cold, isolated regions with limited connectivity
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Research Outputs & Collaboration
- Contribute to academic publications, policy briefings, COP exhibitions, and media engagements
- Shape discussions on agrarian transition and rural climate adaptation
- Work as part of an interdisciplinary team, including:
- Postdocs, PhD students, partners, and four Principal Investigators (PIs)
- Collaborate closely with Nithya Natarajan (PI, King’s College London), colleagues at University of Guelph, and scientists/social scientists in UK and India.
Logistics & Supervision
- Project-based in London, with extended fieldwork periods in Ladakh, Spiti (Himachal Pradesh), and potentially Nepal
- Directly advance AdaptAIR’s goals while developing personal research agendas
- Supervised by PI Nithya Natarajan and integrated into a highly collaborative European research network.
Contract Details
- Full-time, fixed-term appointment (4 years)
- Eligible research staff receive 10 days/year (pro-rata) for professional development (per King’s Concordat).
About You
Essential Criteria
- PhD qualified (or near completion) in:
- Geography
- International Development
- Anthropology
- Sociology
- or a related discipline
- Royal Society caveat: Candidates who have submitted but not yet awarded their PhD may be accepted. If awarded post-PhD, start as Research Assistant (Grade 5); transition to Research Associate (Grade 6) upon confirmation.
- Proficiency in agrarian change, rural development, and livelihood studies (academic or professional)
- Field research experience in:
- Qualitative/mixed-methods approaches (e.g., household surveys, structured/interviews)
- Global South context (preferably South Asia)
- Fluency in English and Hindi
- Willingness to conduct extended fieldwork in:
- Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and potentially Nepal (remote, high-altitude, limited access)
- Excellent communication skills, including:
- Research writing for publication
- Conference presentation
- Team representation at meetings
- Ability to work in cross-disciplinary, international teams
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Desirable Criteria
- Familiarity with multiple academic paradigms (e.g., anthropology, political economy, developmental studies)
- Enthusiasm for rural/outdoor fieldwork in cold, isolated environments
- Regional language skills (e.g., Ladakhi, Spiti’s local languages)
Further Information
Inclusion & Equity
King’s College London is committed to:
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and collaboration as institutional strengths
- Free speech and academic freedom (Dignity at King’s guidance applies)
- Fair recruitment under The Equality Act 2010
- Reasonable adjustments for applicants using AI tools (with prior agreement)
Application Submission
- Required: CV and a supporting statement addressing:
- How you meet essential criteria (and desirable criteria where applicable).
- Early applications encouraged; early closure possible due to high demand.
Notes:
- For format/guidelines, refer to the detailed Job Description [PDF].
- Offers contingent on PhD award (if pending; supplementary steps apply).
Artificial Intelligence tools are permitted to support preparation but must not replace original work.
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Skills
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Field Research
Household Surveys
Interviews
Focus Groups
Community Engagement
Communication Skills
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Agrarian Change
Rural Development
Livelihood Studies
Fluency in English
Fluency in Hindi
Remote Research
Outdoor Research
Location