RESEARCH FELLOW (GRECO) (110355-0525)

Location
University of Warwick Campus, Coventry
Department
Politics & International Studies
Position Type
Fixed Term
Duration
Fixed Term Contract for 2 years
Salary
£35,116 - £45,413 per annum
About the Role

GRECO PROJECT DESCRIPTION

GRECO will introduce the food packaging industry to groundbreaking bio-based, SSbD, and fully circular PLA-based materials, that meet diverse application needs. These alternatives aim to replace fossil-based, complex, and multimaterial structures prevalent in the industry, improving packaging end-of-life through biodegradation in various environments like industrial and home compostability, anaerobic, marine, and soil. The design will ensure recyclability and avoiding of chemical interactions that hinder overall biodegradation. GRECO aims to demonstrate the life cycle and techno-economic feasibility of greener & safer bioplastics value chains for the food packaging sector, based on a safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) strategy. To this aim, innovative bio-based, biodegradable, and recyclable packaging based on new PLA copolymers, coatings, additives and catalysts accompanied by surface treatments will be produced. Regulatory compliance will be demonstrated while contributions to new or modified standards and proper labelling will be proposed. Digital tools will drive the developments from the simulation and modelling scopes, and social sciences and humanities (SSH) will provide relevant information related to social perception and acceptance.
GRECO is a collaboration between research, innovation and policy partners across Europe. The Research Fellow position offers an excellent opportunity to collaborate and network with project partners on both research and policy development. The Research Fellow will work on Work Packages around ethics and user engagement as part of the project.
The Research Fellow will work on the following, including drafting three deliverables (reports) for the project:
1. Research ethics issues arising across the project as whole, including social research involving human subjects, health and safety, and AI ethics. (If the Research Fellow does not have a background in ethics then others in the research group will be able to support on this.)
2. Consumer engagement, including organising and analysing two online workshops and online surveys with users, to understand user needs and perceptions about the new GRECO packaging products.
3. Developing recommendations for labelling on the basis of the consumer engagement activities and relevant regulations.
4. Liaising with other project partners, participating in project meetings (including monthly videoconference meetings and an annual in person project workshop), and other project administration.
5. Undertaking original research within the Research Fellow’s area of expertise and publishing in peer reviewed journals, including both single authored articles and articles co-authored with the project lead.
6. Participating in broader research group activities, including collaborating on new funding proposals and broader policy engagement and impact.

INTERDISCIPLINARY ETHICS RESEARCH GROUP

The Interdisciplinary Ethics Research Group (warwick.ac.uk/ierg) in Warwick’s Department of Politics and International Studies is a dynamic team with a strong commitment to collaborative working, capacity building, and an emphasis on using research to achieve real world policy impact and public engagement. We have a broad portfolio of ethics and/or social science (e.g. user engagement) roles in collaborative funded research projects across topics including health, sustainability, AI, democracy, security, and technology. The Research Fellow will be a full part of the team and will collaborate with others in broader research group activities, including ongoing research funding applications, policy impact activities, and a podcast. Research Fellows are encouraged and supported to pursue their own research agenda and interests, while at the same time engaging flexibly in different research topics as part of new funding applications.

About You

• You should have an academic background in (one or more of) the following areas: qualitative or quantitative social science research methods, applied ethics, or political philosophy.
• You will have a PhD (or working towards a PhD) in a relevant field.
• You should be able to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team to deliver the common objectives of the GRECO project and of the Interdisciplinary Ethics Research Group more broadly.
• You will have the ability and willingness to work flexibly across different research areas and grant applications on applied ethics and/or social science methods beyond the specific area of the GRECO project.
• You will be an accomplished communicator capable of working effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team of researchers.
• You will possess excellent planning and time management skills.
• You will be motivated both by an interest in academic research and by a desire to work with policymakers, the public and others to achieve research-based policy impact in the real world.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.
For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.
About the Department
PAIS is one of the UK’s leading Politics and International Studies departments: in the 2024 The Times/The Sunday Times Good University Guide PAIS ranked 4th of the 80 UK Politics Departments; in REF2021 and REF2014 we were awarded 100% 4* for research environment; and since 2016 PAIS has ranked as number 1 or 2 for ‘overall satisfaction’ in Russell Group for Politics in the National Student Survey (NSS).
Our organisational aim is to be a diverse and inclusive community of students, academic and professional services colleagues that is geared towards embedding the values of dignity, equality, freedom, and justice in our practices, including widening opportunity for both students and staff.
PAIS values diversity, aims to challenge discrimination, and promotes equality. We are committed to strengthening our equality, diversity and inclusion agenda in relation to our community (students and staff), our research and teaching practices, and our curricula. Applications are particularly encouraged from groups that are presently under-represented in PAIS, including individuals who identify as Black, Asian and other under-represented ethnicities, women, those who are disabled, those who identify as LGBTQUA+ people, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We are committed to supporting all our staff in their work in PAIS.
To find out more about the department please visit our website: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/
To find out more about Warwick and the University’s strategy please visit: https://warwick.ac.uk/about/strategy/
About the University
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’*.

You’ll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

• QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021
To find out more about us visit our website.
How to Apply

CLOSING DATE: WEDNESDAY 18TH JUNE 2025 AT 23:55 (BST)

To apply, submit an application form by the closing date.

Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application form past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 23:30).

• Your CV should include your employment history (including your most recent employment), your education history, and any other relevant experience.
• Your cover letter should explain your motivations for applying to the role. It should also explain, using examples, how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the

Right to Work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.

Please refer the Job description for details