Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography

We are seeking to appoint a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography to work on the UKRI-funded Future Leader Fellowship “Digging into sand: new territories in the making” with Dr Laura Schoenberger.

The core aim of the project is to make sand extraction and its associated issues visible through an investigation of its particular geographies in terms of how and where it takes place and its effects on ecologies and livelihoods. This research ‘follows the sand’, starting with extraction points in Southeast Asia. The research objectives driving this study are designed to contribute to theoretical debates, activist work, and policy by constructing a political ecology of sand extraction; building the evidence base through new empirical knowledge; and analysing the different legal arrangements surrounding the mining and trade of sand.

The PDRA will take the lead on coordinating data collection and conducting field research one country in Southeast Asia. The post-holder will be responsible for developing a mix of case studies in areas along rivers and coastlines where sand extraction is either highly visible, or concealed, and where the sand industry is ushering in transformations in resource governance and state development goals. Each case study will involve literature and policy document review. The post-holder will be supported to conduct up to six-months of fieldwork over the two-year in post and will be supported to develop their networks with civil society and regional scholars, and to develop publications from the research. The post-holder will also work with the PI and other project staff to explore new ways to spatially and visually depict the workings of the sand industry. People with expe rience conducting critical social research on environment-society relations in any Southeast Asian country are welcome to apply. You do not need to have experience conducting research on the sand industry, but closely related research on issues such as land, resource conflict, access issues would be useful.

The post-holder will be based at Durham University but will be expected to work closely with civil society partners in Southeast Asia. They will be expected to travel to conduct field research during the course of the project. They will also be expected to ensure that the understandings and tools developed in this project are relevant to the research needs and skills of a wide range of potential stakeholders.