The Sustainable Agricultural Systems & Engineering Laboratory (SASE Lab; https://www.tomcwanger.com at Westlake University has started the knowledge transfer project (https://www.tomcwanger.com/about-3-5), which aims to identify the best ways to communicate and transfer knowledge to the farmers as well to determine the most pressing issues and knowledge needs of smallholder farmers, in China and globally. The project will uncover the best ways to empower farmers by using the right channels for contact and exchange and more importantly to provide the right knowledge that they need for their livelihoods. We have conducted United Nation Food System Summit Dialogues with rice and vanilla farmers in Madagascar (https://summitdialogues.org/dialogue/44044/) and with cocoa farmers in Brazil (https://summitdialogues.org/dialogue/50696/) using two-stage surveys: workshops with famers representatives and individual farmers surveys. As we aim for a global scale study and to replicate the methods in other countries, including China, in collaboration with local organizations.

We are looking for a Research assistant to support us in:

  · organizing the workshops

  · conducting the individual survey in close collaboration with local collaborators and

  · collating the generated data.

This position offers a great opportunity for the right candidate to work with our established and new collaborations in China and globally, and to be proactive in implementing your own ideas in line with our lab’s goals. The position will be based in the SASE lab in Hangzhou with business trip for workshops to different locations in China. This position requires frequent interaction in Chinese and English with researchers at different career stages and farmers. The ideal candidate has a strong interest in farmer communication, and knows how to collaborate with local organizations.

Job Responsibilities in a nutshell

- Organize and conduct workshops in Chinese with local hosts

- Collaborate and communicate effectively with local hosts of workshops

- Communicate with farmers representatives to facilitate the individual surveys with farmer

- Assemble, translate and clean data from workshop and individual survey

- Support in report writing and translate it into Chinese

- Be a pro-active member of the SASE lab

- Other tasks as assigned

Job Requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated Research Assistant with:

 1.A bachelor or Master degree in a field of agricultural or social sciences or in science communication

 2.Skills in the following areas are critical: communication with diverse groups, social surveys and data management

 3.Well organized

 4.Very good language skills in Chinese and English are mandatory

 5.Integrate well in an interdisciplinary and international group

Compensation and Benefits

We offer competitive benefits and a diverse and international research environment. Starting date: 1st of March 2023 or as soon as possible. The planned duration of the position is two years. We strive to recruit excellent and committed people that are interested in participating in resulting scientific and policy papers.

How to apply

Please submit your application documents including a CV and cover letter in English to Prof. Thomas Cherico Wanger (tomcwanger@westlake.edu.cn). The position remains open until filled.

For questions please contact Prof. Thomas Cherico Wanger (tomcwanger@westlake.edu.cn).