Senior Researcher / Researcher, ECOIP Project
Investigate how global trade and consumption impact indigenous lands and livelihoods at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature.
Best for:Best for environmental scientists, political economists, or human geographers with fieldwork experience and expertise in global value chains or indigenous rights.
Overview
The Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) invites applications for researcher or senior researcher positions within the ECOIP Project ('Towards an Ethical Economy: Addressing the Impacts of Commodity Trade and Consumption on Indigenous Lands and Livelihoods'). The successful candidates will conduct independent and collaborative research focusing either on political economy, global value chains, and environmental governance, or on environmental justice, indigenous peoples, and participatory sustainability. Appointees will collaborate closely with project members, conduct fieldwork, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. This fixed-term appointment is based in Kyoto, Japan, starting from April 2027.
What you'll do
- Formulate and advance research concepts aligned with the ECOIP project plan and publish findings in peer-reviewed academic journals.
- Engage in collaborative interdisciplinary research bridging natural and social sciences.
- Conduct independent fieldwork in rural or remote areas with limited infrastructure.
- Liaise with indigenous organizations, NGOs, government bodies, and corporate stakeholders as necessary.
- Contribute to project dissemination activities, conferences, seminars, workshops, and co-creation events.
Requirements
Degree required: PhD in Political Economy, Public Policy, Human Geography, Anthropology, Sustainability Science, or a related field
Language: English; strong proficiency required for research, academic writing, and international collaboration.
Instruction: English
Publications: Peer-reviewed publication record or equivalent research achievements required.
- Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the project's core research domains (Political Economy/Global Value Chains or Environmental Justice/Indigenous Studies).
- Track record of peer-reviewed publications or equivalent research output.
- Experience conducting academic fieldwork.
- Sound understanding of research ethics regarding collaboration with indigenous and local communities.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team.
- Must hold a PhD degree or equivalent research capability by the time of appointment.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-12-28
Prepare all required application documents in English, merge them into a single ZIP archive, and submit them via email to the designated project address with the subject line 'Application for ECOIP Researcher'.
- CV
- Research output list
- Sample publications
- Research statement
- Reference contacts
Contact
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