Post-doc Sustainability Fellowship
Royal Horticultural Society
3576
9696
Are you passionate about sustainability and the environment, and keen to tackle the climate/biodiversity crisis? The RHS is looking to recruit a post-doc to undertake an exciting new 5-year fellowship study on environmental sustainability within gardening and horticulture.
For more than 210 years the Royal Horticultural Society has been the force behind the nation’s gardening. Our charitable purpose is to inspire passion and excellence in the science, art and practice for horticulture. Our vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. As a charity, the RHS aims to inspire a wide range of audiences by demonstrating the wonders of gardening through all that we do including gardens and shows, in our publications and online, and through our work in the community.
The successful candidate will undertake a research study to quantify the environmental effects (positive and negative) of a range of typical gardening activities. Working together with RHS scientists, this will involve desk and field assessments to enable the quantification of energy use, water use, carbon / nitrogen cycling, waste generation, chemical and pollutant use, habitat / biodiversity changes and bio-security impacts, within a gardening context. New knowledge from this study will inform and help RHS gardens, members and the gardening public to assess the environmental consequences of their individual gardening decisions and activities. It will also provide guidance towards achieving ambitious sustainability targets within the RHS, including net positive for nature and net positive for people, through climate-positive and environmentally beneficial gardening. The outcomes of this research are likely to have impact across the wider horticulture and landscaping industry.
Applicants should have a PhD in sustainability, environmental science or related subject and a passion for developing an understanding of the environmental effects of gardening and horticulture. A thorough and demonstrable understanding of environmental sustainability and biodiversity / climate change concepts, together with practical experience and ability in the quantification of resource use and environmental impacts, is essential.
The RHS provides a number of great benefits for employees including:
• Free access to all RHS Gardens, Shows and Libraries
• Employee discounts including airport parking, hotels, retail and gym membership
• 25 days holiday (increasing 28 and 30 with service) and option to buy/sell
• Monthly Garden Magazine and access to Horticultural advice
• Sponsorship for External Studies
It’s never been more exciting time to join the Royal Horticultural Society. We are making a landmark £160 million investment in the future of horticulture over the next 10 years. This will allow us to bring the joy of gardening to millions more people and make some of the most significant and exciting changes in the history. Join us and be part of the history.
Apply via our website by 30 June 2021.