Join the AFN Network+ Early Career Researchers Board and be part of the Future of Agri-Food
*** This opportunity has now closed ***
Are you passionate about transforming the agri-food system to achieve net zero? Do you want to collaborate with leading researchers and innovators while advancing your own career? The AFN Network+ is offering a unique opportunity for early career researchers (ECRs) to make a real impact, grow professionally, and shape the future of the UK’s agri-food sector.
As a member of the Early Career Researchers Board you can:
- Collaborate: Work with other early career researchers and AFN Champions, building your networks with leading researchers and stakeholders, and crafting practical solutions for policy, innovation, and sustainability.
- Develop Skills: Participate in bespoke training workshops on co-production, co-design, and sharpen your skills in transdisciplinary research and leadership.
- Gain Support: Benefit from pastoral care and support from the network to help you succeed.
- Flexible Funding: Receive £1,000 to support your role and activities, with additional funding available for travel and subsistence. As Board Chair, unlock an additional £2,000 to lead ECR-specific activities.
Who Should Apply?
We’re seeking passionate, motivated early career researchers whose expertise and interests span the agri-food system. Whether you specialise in environmental science, agricultural science, social justice, economic sustainability across food, or food technology, we want you!
Why Join?
- Be Heard: Have your voice shape AFN activities.
- Expand Your Network: Join a vibrant network and build lasting connections with peers, mentors and stakeholders.
What’s Expected?
- Attend monthly meetings and core AFN events.
- Organise and lead activities like workshops and discussions.
- Collaborate with your fellow ECRs to spark new ideas and approaches.
Key Details:
- Term: 1 February 2025 to 30 September 2025
- Application Deadline: 23:59 on Sunday, 8th December 2024
Don’t miss this chance to accelerate your career and contribute to the transformation of the UK’s agri-food system. Together, let’s create a sustainable future!
For any questions, contact Sophie Constant at sophie.constant@uwe.ac.uk.
Serving as the ECR Board Chair has been an inspiring journey, collaborating with talented interdisciplinary scholars to tackle challenges and seize opportunities to shape a sustainable and Net-Zero agrifood system for the UK. The experience of sharing ideas, celebrating successes, and learning from one another has not only strengthened our collective efforts but also enriched my own professional growth. It’s a unique platform to drive change and build the foundation for our future careers!
Guidance
The AFN Network+ is recruiting members for its Early Career Researchers (ECR) Board. Appointments will run from 1 February 2025 until 30 September 2025.
The mission of the AFN Network+ is to identify the key research gaps which need to be addressed if we are to reduce emissions in the sector and achieve the UK’s transition towards net zero by 2050.
We build collaborative relationships between key actors in the agri-food system, from researchers to stakeholders and back, to combine systems-level expertise with comprehensive coverage of all key specialisms, allowing us to:
- envision plausible futures for a sustainable agri-food system;
- analyse the environmental, economic, social and technological implications of each of these scenarios; and
- define practical pathways to achieving the most optimal of these futures.
We’re looking for ECRs whose interests and expertise span the agri-food system. We strive to compose a board that is balanced across gender, diversity of agri-food system expertise, university representation and ethnicity.
Embedded pastoral care for ECR team members is crucial in supporting a culture of inclusivity within the AFN Network+. ECRs will have the opportunity to be mentored by senior team members and be involved with Champion activities. The ECR Board Chair will be involved in monthly management meetings to support the integration of ECRs across network activities and the creation of opportunities for ECRs to develop confidence in transdisciplinary research through debate and discussion and bespoke skills development workshops. Space will be made within the network for ECRs to meet and discuss important network issues, as well as co-lead network activities.
The ECR board will be self-organised with a Board Chair.
Each ECR will be allocated £1,000 for the 8 month period, to attend, hold and support events of choice with the Board chair receiving an additional £2,000 for ECR-specific activities, which may include running networking events and training amongst others. Funding extensions beyond 30 September 2025 will not be possible.
Money for additional travel and subsistence can be applied for on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Executive team.
Additional funds are available for ECRs to attend AFN Network+ in-person activities. The ECR Board will participate in training workshops on co-production and co-design and use these skills when designing and running network activities.
There will be opportunities to work with the Year 3 Champions in their goals of:
- helping synthesise ideas and thinking from across the AFN and the wider stakeholder community to ensure inclusive input in defining plausible pathways to net zero, through agri-food.
- Identifying the research priorities and policy innovation required to deliver a food system that is sustainable, economically viable, socially just, and secure.
- running engagement activities centred around their respective themes, building on existing AFN research and outputs and the work of previous AFN Champions.
The Champions are the Ambassadors for the Network and play a key role in our mission to identify the research and policy innovation required to drive the food system transformation that will underpin the UK’s transition to net zero by 2050.
An early career researcher (ECR) is someone who is either:
- Within eight years of their PhD award (this is from the time of the PhD ‘viva’ oral test), or
- Equivalent professional training within six years of their first academic appointment (the first full or part-time paid employment).
- Contract that lists research or teaching as the primary function.
These periods exclude any career breaks, for example due to family care, health reasons and are pro-rata for any periods of part-time work.
The selection criteria are based on:
- fit to the terms of reference (see below); and
- increasing the diversity of the team.
This is a key project, funded by UKRI, and involves a substantial list of committed partners, both at an organisational and individual level. Find out more about the team.
My experience being an ECR board member was really positive. It improved my research network and exposed me to new research fields. I was updated about many research funding opportunities as well.
Terms of reference for the Year 3 ECR Board
- The ECR Board will meet regularly, at least monthly, chaired by the ECR Board chair.
- ECRs will be expected to be impartial across the broad scope of their remit, and in their interactions with the wider AFN Network+ membership.
- ECRs will have the opportunity to work with the Champions in organising and convening key AFN Network+ activities, in service to the strategic objectives of the network.
- ECRs are expected to engage with each other to look for synergies and new ways of working. They will also be expected to engage with the network and the development opportunities available as part of the network. This could involve engagement with various events, supporting a Champion in research or workshops, or contributing to scientific literature.
ECRs will be part of the AFN Network+ membership, and agree to abide by the AFN Network+ Code of Conduct,
If you have any questions about the ECR Board Recruitment, please email Sophie Constant, AFN Network+ Project Manager, University of West England, Sophie.constant@uwe.ac.uk.
Closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday, 8th December 2024.
FAQs
Yes, there is no limit on how many people can apply from the same organisation. Each application will be assessed on its own merit.
No, this is a UKRI research-grant funded role. The usual contractual status is a collaborative agreement with an institution. ECRs will continue their employment status under the current terms and conditions of their employing organisation.
There is no expected time commitment or work pattern. You will need to declare how much time you will give to the role and make the case for the level of knowledge and experience you bring, and how the time commitment you can make would represent good value for money. There are AFN Network+ meetings that you would be expected to attend, both regular online, and core AFN Network+ events, in-person, throughout the year. You will also be expected to organise and run several of your own activities and workshops throughout the year.
There is no matched funding required, the total grant of £1,000 is paid at 100%.
The funding is to enable ECR board members to take part in activities across the network, covering consumables, research, travel and expenses for events and for any communal training and development activities and events. Approval is not required, however, if there are any ideas, research or untraditional events please get in touch with a member of the AFN team for guidance and advice
It is possible to commission certain tasks to add value to the work of the ECR Board. These should be transparent, and a clear explanation provided of their benefit. However, most of the application should be focused on the knowledge, skills and experience that will benefit the board.
