Researcher in sustainability science

Researcher in Sustainability Science: Blue Climate Justice in Loss and Damage from Extreme Climate Events
Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS)

About us
The Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS) includes about 60 staff (faculty, postdocs, and PhD students) who work across a range of issues, from global climate change  to the lived experiences of marginalised communities. LUCSUS also runs the international master’s programme in sustainability science (LUMES), with about 50 students each year from more than 20 countries.

About the role
We invite applications for a creative, collaborative and committed researcher to join LUCSUS for a one-year position, affiliated with the Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes (CLIMES). CLIMES is a collaboration between Uppsala University, Lund University and RISE, inaugurated in 2024, and aims to foster a vibrant interdisciplinary scientific community. The centre leads a series of research exchanges, training events and international collaborations.

This research position is funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR) through a Centre of Excellence grant and will contribute to cutting-edge research and policy-relevant outputs. The work will focus on loss and damage from climate extremes, with a particular emphasis on non-economic loss and damage, including ecological loss and blue climate justice. The geographical focus spans Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Professor Emily Boyd and work closely with researchers across LUCSUS, Uppsala University, and RISE.

Main Responsibilities

Research focus (90%)
The main research tasks will be closely aligned with LUCSUS' work on loss and damage and the activities of CLIMES. Key tasks include:

Conducting collaborative and interdisciplinary research on non-economic loss and damage Contributing to an international CLIMES conference and related events Supporting the development of new grant proposals

The ideal candidate will have:

Expertise in ecological loss and damage in coastal and island contexts Experience working with hard-to-reach populations and conducting research in areas impacted by extreme climate events A background in qualitative and interdisciplinary methods, including lived experience research Interest in working with both academic and non-academic actors

Administrative and service focus (10%)
Administrative responsibilities will include:

Project administration Grant writing Science communication, including outreach materials and regular updates on project progress via social media Contributing to teaching.

Required Qualifications

• A PhD in sustainability science or a related field
• A strong publication record, including co-authored work
• Demonstrated experience working with intergovernmental climate processes
• Deep interest in interdisciplinary research and blue climate justice
• Strong academic writing skills and experience leading manuscripts
• Ability to work independently and in inclusive, international teams
• Enthusiasm for teaching and student engagement
• Experience conducting ethical fieldwork and working with remote communities
• Language proficiency in English and French

Desirable Qualifications

Experience with qualitative, ethnographic or participatory methods Familiarity with concepts such as intersectionality and lived experience Prior experience supervising students or coordinating research teams

The Postdoctoral researcher is a 1 year position.

Terms and Application Process
This is a one-year full-time research position.

A complete application includes:

A cover letter (max 1 page) explaining your motivation and how the position aligns with your career goals A CV detailing academic and professional background A list of publications (divided into peer-reviewed, reports, and outreach) Contact details for two academic or professional referees (at least one current or former research supervisor)