Doctoral Researcher Position: Urban Ecology and Biodiversity

Description

The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) invites applications for a fully funded doctoral researcher position on the interdisciplinary research theme “Rurban Ecologies, Cultural Flows, and the Making of Urban Nature.” The project explores how urban ecology and biodiversity are actively shaped through the movement of plants, materials, species, and cultural practices across interconnected rural and urban landscapes.

Moving beyond conventional approaches to urban biodiversity, the research examines the role of culturally induced flows, including ritual practices, floriculture, landscaping, and aesthetic preferences, in generating both ecological support and ecological stress within rapidly transforming cities. Drawing on the concept of rurbanity, the project investigates how ecological processes emerge through interactions between peri urban production landscapes, urban consumption spaces, and the cultural values that connect them.

The doctoral researcher will be based at ATREE, Bengaluru, with the opportunity to register for a PhD at the University of Kassel, Germany. The candidate will be jointly supervised by Dr. M. Soubadra Devy (ATREE) and Dr. Andreas Buerkert (University of Kassel) and will work within an interdisciplinary research environment spanning urban ecology, environmental science, geography, and sustainability studies. The position will involve extensive fieldwork across Bengaluru and its peri urban hinterlands and active engagement with international research networks.

Responsibilities

• Review and synthesise relevant literature on rurbanity, urban ecology, biodiversity, and cultural landscapes.
• Design and conduct interdisciplinary field research using ecological and social science methods.
• Map and analyse culturally induced flows of plant material and their ecological implications.
• Engage with communities, nurseries, temples, urban planners, and other stakeholders.
• Analyse qualitative and quantitative data and contribute to scientific publications.
• Participate in project meetings, workshops, and international conferences.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a postgraduate degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, Sustainability Studies, or a closely related discipline. Candidates with an interest in interdisciplinary research linking urban ecology, biodiversity, and socio ecological systems are particularly encouraged to apply. Experience in field ecology, biodiversity assessment, qualitative or mixed methods research, and data analysis will be an advantage.

For further information please refer to the project website www.uni-kassel.de/go/for-5903 or contact Prof. Dr. Soubadra Devy (she/her). To learn more about the concept of rurbanity, interested applicants are encouraged to consult the recent publication by our research team:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-023-01331-2

How to Apply

Note

• Only candidates who are shortlisted for the interview will be contacted.