Postdoctoral Researcher for RELATE4NATURE Project

About the Position

The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) offers a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher Position for two years, with potential extension to a total of 44 Months, to support the Horizon Europe project RELATE4NATURE (“Relational Biodiversity Economics Approach for Assessing, Weaving and Scaling Socio-Economic Models for Biodiversity Restoration, and Community Resilience to Climate Change and Wellbeing”), under the supervision of Prof Unai Pascual. Join us as a Postdoc at BC3 and contribute to the understanding of the interactions between climate, energy, biodiversity, agri-environmental policy. In this position, the Postdoc will contribute to the further development of existing ecological-economic models and develop new modelling platforms at BC3.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualization and development of a research design to analyse trade-offs of the green energy transition, nature’s diverse values, and social justice.
• Generate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data based on a case study.
• Carry out empirically-based research on a case study from the Basque Country using a mixed-based methodological approach including quantitative and qualitative research methods. This will involve applying a transdisciplinary approach, in turn requiring leading activities such as identifying and engaging with key stakeholders, conducting interviews, surveys, leading and facilitating focus groups and stakeholder workshops.
• Review and synthesize the available scientific and grey literature to support the conceptual and empirical research.
• Day-to-day assistance for the management of the project at BC3 to fulfil expected project deliverables and milestones, and collaboration with other researchers of the project consortium.
• Contribute to support communication and dissemination of project activities and outputs (including project meetings, conferences, deliverables).
• Lead and contribute to research articles for publication in peer-reviewed international scientific journals.

Requirements

• PhD in environmental or ecological economics, and related disciplines (e.g. political science, geography, environmental psychology, rural studies, development studies). Other related degrees might also be evaluated.
• Proven quantitative and/or modelling skills (e.g., statistics, econometrics, GIS), and in qualitative research methods (e.g., critical discourse analysis, content analysis).
• Demonstration of a track record of peer-reviewed publications as well as the ability to initiate and complete original research.
• Research experience and knowledge of the literature on topics closely related to the project including, environmental valuation, plural values, green energy transition, biodiversity conservation, social-ecological frameworks, transformative change, scenario modelling, rural development, and knowledge integration.
• Fieldwork experience for primary data collection
• Ability to coordinate and contribute to research teamwork and conduct transdisciplinary work with local stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Excellent written and oral command of English.

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of EU level and national or/and international green energy and biodiversity conservation related policies, concepts and frameworks around “ecosystem services”, “nature’s contributions to people”, “nature’s values”, “environmental justice”.
• Experience in environmental valuation methods and tools
• Knowledge of transdisciplinary methods and / or multi actor research
• Good knowledge of Spanish and/or Basque languages.

We Offer

• Interdisciplinary and inspiring work environment.
• 35-hour week work calendar.
• 30 days of vacation per year.

About the Company

The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) is an international research centre located in Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain). BC3’s vision is to steer climate change science towards the co-production of new knowledge and the co-design of policy solutions together with other stakeholders through a solid and transdisciplinary approach, with the ultimate goal to achieve more sustainable and just futures. Its mission is to co-produce knowledge and co-design policy solutions with stakeholders, integrating environmental, socioeconomic, and ethical dimensions to address the global challenges of climate change. Founded in 2008, BC3 has grown into a leading international research centre, recognized for its multi-scalar research with global reach.

Salary

The gross annual salary for this position ranges from €27,040.00 to €34,320.00, depending on prior experience.

Application Procedure

Fill the form below and upload ONE PDF document with the following information:

CV

Max 3 pages, including contact information of two referees

Motivation Letter

Max 3 pages

Please consider that only applications sent through the form included at the bottom of the BC3 web page will be considered here

Informal enquiries can be made to Unai Pascual noting in the subject of the message “RELATE4NATURE post-doctoral position”

Contact Unai Pascual [email protected]

Deadline 21 November, 2026