Research Fellow – Systems Thinking in Food System Resilience and Vertical Farming(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the “Vertical Farming to Improve UK Food System Resilience (VF-UKFSR)” project. You will apply systems thinking to analyze and enhance the resilience of the UK leafy green supply chain, with a particular focus on the role of vertical farming.

You will be responsible for:

Creating causal systems maps of the UK leafy green supply chain using data from workshops, interviews, and literature.

Collaborating with both conventional and vertical farm partners to identify risks and explore potential responses.

Supporting the development of novel tools and participatory approaches for assessing risk, resilience, and adaptation strategies in complex food systems.

This interdisciplinary role offers the chance to work closely with leading academics and stakeholders from across the VF-UKFSR team, including socio-economic, land-use, and policy specialists. Your insights will help shape future policy and industry roadmaps for vertical farming in the UK.

About You

You will be a motivated and independent researcher with:

A PhD (or near completion) in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.

Knowledge or experience in systems thinking, complexity science, or participatory modelling.

Experience with or a willingness to develop qualitative and quantitative systems mapping methods.

Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders and manage participatory processes.

A strong interest in food systems, horticulture/agriculture, and resilience analysis.

Desirable skills include:

Experience in network analysis, causal inference, or risk and resilience modelling.

Coding ability in R or Python, or a demonstrated capacity to learn.

An understanding of how to integrate qualitative and quantitative data and models.

A track record of producing academic publications and managing research workloads independently.

About the Department

You will be based in the Department of Informatics at the University of Sussex, known for its collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.
Learn more: sussex.ac.uk/informatics

Why Work at Sussex

The University of Sussex is a research-led, internationally recognised institution located near the South Downs National Park, offering a scenic and accessible working environment:

Five-minute walk from Falmer train station

On-campus bus stops and dedicated cycle paths

Cycle-to-work scheme and other staff benefits

Explore our reward and benefits package

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Sussex

Visa Information

This role has an eligible SOC code and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship, if full-time and appointed at Grade 7.4 or higher. Some candidates may also require ATAS clearance depending on nationality and research area.
Refer to our Skilled Worker Visa page
for more details.

Additional Information

The University of Sussex is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and actively encourages applications from women and underrepresented minority groups, particularly in STEMM disciplines.

Please note: All work must be performed within the UK.