Job Opening: Research Staff (PhD student or MA Degree holder level) at Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University
SDSN Kazakhstan is announcing a vacancy for a Research Assistant position, to work on the SDG Nexus Network Project in collaboration with the Centre for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU) Justus Liebig University (Giessen, Germany). This project was made possible thanks to the funding support from DAAD's ‘Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation – Exceed’ program. The project is dedicated to investigating the complex interactions between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their implications for sustainable development pathways.
- Location: The workplace is in Astana, Kazakhstan, at the SDSN Kazakhstan, which is a research center at Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy (NU GSPP).
- Job Type: Research staff, part-time contract, renewal subject to performance reviews
SDG Nexus Network Research Framework: Based on the research conducted and the experience gained in the first phase, the SDGNN will concentrate its research efforts on two key nexus topics – Land use and Water – fostering to build an even stronger expertise and more in-depth collaboration within each domain. Climate change and biodiversity as well as governance and gender are seen as cross-cutting themes, linking these two areas of research. To realize this research concept, the SDGNN will streamline its personnel structure. Instead of individual sub-projects at the partner institutions, thematic SDGnexus Network Research Groups will be set up, each focusing on one of the key nexus topics. This will enhance knowledge sharing, team cohesion and empowerment of the project staff to play more central roles in the SDGNN. By promoting data sharing as well as open-access publication, we actively stimulate open and transparent science processes.
Requirements
• Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Development Studies, Environmental Sciences, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics or other related disciplines
• Applicants should have advanced communication skills in spoken and written English as well as good academic writing skills
• Skills: critical thinking and problem-solving skills, quantitative and qualitative research methods, prior research experience is an advantage
Duties and Responsibilities
- Conduct both desk research and data collection within the SDG Nexus Network research framework and report to the project Co-PI at Nazarbayev University
- Contribute to the implementation of research projects at SDSN and collaborative activities with partner institutions
- Contribute to research dissemination via social media, reports and policy briefs
- Participate in the organization of research conferences and workshops
Application process
Please send your application via e-mail to sdsn@nu.edu.kz until 30th January 2025. Applications must be submitted in English as a single PDF file. If you have questions about the position, please contact project Co-PI at NU Dr. Serik Orazgaliyev (serik.orazgaliyev@nu.edu.kz) or SDSN Manager Malika Tazhmuratova (malika.tazhmuratova@nu.edu.kz). Only complete applications, with documents in the order listed below, will be accepted:
- Cover letter stating your motivation to apply for the SDSN Research Staff position
- Curriculum vitae
- Academic certificates (undergraduate and graduate degrees)
- Two letters of recommendation to assess your academic achievements (optional)
The SDGnexus Network is seeking at increasing percentage of women in academia; therefore, qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.
Please be aware that we will only contact successful applicants.
As part of the selection process shortlisted candidates will be called for a virtual or face-to-face interview in English.
About SDSN Kazakhstan: Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Kazakhstan is a national chapter of the UN SDSN, established in June 2022 at the Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University. SDSN is a global initiative launched by the United Nations in 2012 to mobilize scientific and technological expertise to address sustainable development challenges and advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, SDSN Kazakhstan includes 24 members from leading universities and research centers across the country. Together, these members aim to promote sustainable development solutions, support education and research collaborations on the SDGs, and offer research-based policy recommendations to tackle sustainability challenges in Kazakhstan. The network's research priorities include: Energy and Climate; Education and Partnerships; and Water, Land, and Communities. More information about SDSN Kazakhstan can be found at www.sdsnkz.nu.edu.kz
The SDGnexus Network, consisting of partners from Germany, Colombia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, provides a common research framework related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and aims to analyze synergies and trade-offs among individual SDGs (SDG-Nexus-analysis). Following a successful first phase from 2020-2024, the SDGnexus Network will intensify its activities in a second phase 2025- 2029. The research concentrates on examining the relationships between individual SDGs, with particular emphasis on Land Use and Water. A particular focus lays on promoting and connecting the next generation of scientists. Further information about the network can be found at www.sdgnexus.net