The Markets and Food Research Fellows will work together to help lead and guide a strategic global protein research project that aims to carry out a comparative analysis of the impact of global protein production systems on the environment, livelihoods, and human health. This research project will be carried out in close collaboration with the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), based at the University of California Santa Barbara, which will support a research working group approach and convene a global panel of scientific experts to carry out the research. Working group meetings will be convened over the next 18 months at NCEAS facilities in Santa Barbara as well as in different regions of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The Research Fellows will co-lead the project with considerable oversight, guidance and support from management and support teams within WWF and NCEAS. Through an analysis and synthesis research approach, this work will:
- describe the macro context for protein production and consumption globally and regionally, including plant-based and animal-based systems;
- identify and quantify the range of environmental impacts using key social and environmental metrics;
- describe and quantify the major global, regional and local drivers affecting protein production and consumption;
- describe issues and challenges related to livelihoods and nutrition, especially by key geographies;
- develop global/regional/national projections or scenarios of potential future global protein supply and demand to 2050, using data, insights and modeling approaches from key geographies;
- describe risks, opportunities, and tradeoffs for scaling up different protein production systems, including issues such as yield gaps, sustainable intensification, land use change, and climate change, as related to potential impacts on livelihoods, nutrition and the environment.
The Markets and Food Science Research Fellows report to the WWF-US Vice President for Markets and Food.
- Provides project management and executive-level research and analysis support for the global protein research project, specifically as part of a Research Working Group approach
- Works with Senior Vice President and Vice President of Markets and Food to conduct innovative research and modeling, data analysis, and literature reviews to synthesize findings, develop recommendation and deliver practice- and policy-relevant information
- Stays abreast of relevant scientific literature and shares important findings with team
- Conducts and supports colleagues in conducting research, analyses and synthesis, providing compelling written and visual information to convey key results
- Serves as a radar function to identify opportunities and emerging science issues, especially related to protein
- Supports high quality distribution of research and analysis and liaisons closely across the global science team, especially the WWF Lead Scientist for Agriculture and Food
- Undertakes drafting and editing of project reports, findings, and proposals
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Considerable research and analytical experience required, preferably in an environmental or agricultural discipline
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant, current research methods are a must
- Experience in science communications, analytical and synthesis, and report writing preferred
- Strong leadership, project management skills, and excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills
- Excellent verbal, written, visual and interpersonal communications skills in English, French or another language a plus
- Ability to work collaboratively in a decentralized network with a culturally diverse and international team