Research Fellowships in Global Methane Politics

University of Leeds; Leeds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK is offering three Research Fellowships in Global Methane Politics, starting September 2026. Successful candidates will focus on livestock, oil and gas, and solid waste sectors. They will generate original research findings, collaborate closely with a project team, and explore the implications for methane emissions and climate action. The role offers extensive holidays and access to various health and wellbeing programs.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays

Discounted gym membership

Access to personal development courses

On-site childcare and shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in conducting qualitative research and analysis.
• Understanding of political ecology and climate change issues.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Generate original research findings in respective sectors.
• Collaborate with the project team and compare findings.
• Explore broader implications of research for methane and climate.

Skills

Research skills in environmental politics

Qualitative methods

Ability to work collaboratively

Education

PhD or equivalent in relevant field

Job description

Research Fellowships in Global Methane Politics

3 Positions

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have interests or background in environmental politics, political ecology or related areas? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

The Global Methane Politics project (METH-POL) is a five-year European Research Council-funded project led by Professor Jan Selby in the School of Politics and International Studies at Leeds. The overall objectives of this project are to contribute to global climate change research and practice by exploring 1) the distinctive political dynamics and challenges associated with methane emissions and methane emission reduction efforts; and 2) why methane emissions are proving so hard to control, despite their acknowledged importance as a short-term climate forcer and the abundance of low-cost technical mitigation solutions. The project will involve research across five major methane emitting sectors – livestock, oil and gas, solid waste, coal, and wastewater – and in more than a dozen countries spanning global North and South, and every continent. The project adopts a broadly political ecology theoretical approach, and will involve research at many different scales, from international policy arenas right down to the level of individual mines, farms and treatment plants where methane is emitted and governed in practice. The project will principally make use of qualitative methods, especially documentary analysis, interviews and observations.

The 3 Research Fellows will join the project for three years from September 2026, focusing respectively on 1) livestock, 2) oil and gas, and 3) solid waste. For each of these fellowships, the core objectives will be to generate original research findings on their specific sector; to work with other members of the project team (the PI, project administrator, two PhD researchers, and other research fellows) to compare across sites, scales and sectors; and to explore the broader implications of these sectoral and comparative findings for methane and climate research and practice.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact the METH-POL project team at: [e-mail]