Closing Date: 09/02/2024

The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a European Non-profit Science and Technology oriented Educational and Research Institution based in Cyprus and led by an acclaimed Board of Trustees. The research agenda of the CyI is pursued at its five Research Centers: the Energy Environment Water Research Centre (EEWRC), the Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC), the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC), the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) and the Science and Technology Driven Policy and Innovation Research Center (STeDI-RC). Considerable cross-center interaction is a characteristic of the Institute’s culture.

The Cyprus Institute invites applications for a highly motivated and qualified individual to join the Institute as a Research Assistant in our interdisciplinary research team of STeDI-RC. The successful candidate will primarily work in the EU-funded RAINFOREST project (https://rainforest-horizon.eu/) and will assist in analyzing Cyprus' tourism industry's food chain to identify sustainable practices towards biodiversity conservation. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a high-impact international project and work at the intersection of environmental science, sustainable tourism, and policy development.

The successful candidate will support the empirical data collection and analyses of Cyprus' touristic food chain, developing sustainable strategies, and engaging with diverse stakeholders to achieve the project's objectives. The role demands a good understanding of the environmental impact of tourism, particularly in food consumption, and a commitment to developing innovative solutions for behavioral and transformative change in the tourism sector of Cyprus.

The period of the appointment will be for a duration of two years with the possibility of renewal, depending on performance and availability of funds. An internationally competitive remuneration package will be offered, which is commensurate with the level of experience of the successful candidate.

Responsibilities/activities to be involved in:

1. Contribute in conducting empirical data collection and preliminary analysis related to sustainable food chains in tourism.
2. Assist in the assessment of the environmental impact of Cyprus' touristic food chain.
3. Contribute in system mapping and transformative change methodologies for sustainable practices.
4. Assist in stakeholder engagement by participating in meetings and workshops to help develop and implement sustainable supply networks.
5. Support the development of policy recommendations and organizing materials for policy forums.
6. Assist in preparing project reports, contributing to scientific publications.
7. Actively participate in an interdisciplinary and international research team.

Required Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Sustainability Sciences, Environmental Policy, Environmental Economics, or related fields
2. Experience with environmental impact assessment tools
3. Good analytical and research skills
4. Excellent knowledge of the English language (written and verbal).
5. High level of organizational, analytical, creative and problem-solving skills.
6. Ability to multitask and manage competing priorities.
7. High level of communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt in a multicultural environment.
8. Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and international team

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in system dynamics modeling and transformative change methodologies
• Familiarity with environmental footprint calculators or similar assessment tools
• Specialization in areas such as Life Cycle Assessment is highly desirable
• Knowledge of the tourism industry, particularly in the context of Cyprus or similar regions
• Knowledge of Greek language will be considered an advantage.

Application

For full consideration, interested applicants should process their application at The Cyprus Institute Exelsys Platform (https://bit.ly/3HDLRTw) based on the instructions given. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae including a short letter of interest, [list of publications] and a list of three (3) referees (including contact information) (all documentation should be in English and in PDF Format). For further information, please contact Dr Christos Zoumides (c.zoumides@cyi.ac.cy). Please note that applications which do not fulfill the required qualifications and do not follow the announcement’s guidelines will not be considered.

Recruitment will continue until the position is filled.

The Cyprus Institute is an Equal Opportunities Employer certified from the Cypriot Ministry of Labor and also an HRS4R accredited Institution that adheres to the European Commission’s “Charter & Code” principles for recruitment and selection.

Contact person: Christos Zoumides

Reference number: STeDI_RA_24_01