Research Assistant

Building and Campus: Bush House Building, Strand Campus

Job description

We are recruiting a Research Assistant (Pre-Doc) for the EU-Horizon research project INSPIRE (Intersectional Spaces of Participation: Inclusive, Resilient, Embedded) based at the Department of Political Economy, KCL. The post is offered on a full-time for 29 weeks but part-time and flexible arrangements are welcomed.

INSPIRE is a project that brings together 17 partners across Europe and will:

• assess past and current participatory deliberative processes through an intersectional lens to identify the explanatory factors that facilitate and/or hinder inclusion/ exclusion patterns
• investigate the constraints and affordances generated by the interplay between social, economic and political conditions in the configuration and development of participatory assemblage
• co-design and co-deliver intersectionally-inclusive participatory assemblages through engagement with disempowered groups
• coproduce new learning and action with public officials, citizens and a range of stakeholders to inform a more inclusive, and yet pragmatic, approach to participatory design and practice

We are looking for a committed Research Assistant/Pre-Doc to conduct research across Work Package 3 ‘Intersectional participatory assemblages: co-designing inclusive participation’ and Work Package 1 ‘Understanding and Enhancing Intersectional Equality in Participatory and Deliberative Processes’ and to contribute to other work packages.

Contract type

This post will be offered on a fixed term contract from 1^st May 2024 to 26^th November 2024 and as a full-time post (100% full-time equivalent). The post can be also offered on part-time or flexible basis.

Key responsibilities

• Secondary research on arts-based intersectional inclusion in participatory spaces (scoping review).
• Work on synthesising the outcome of the scoping review and preparation of the written report.
• Work on the meta-review of participatory processes to support the development of the empirical framework for researching intersectional equality (WP1).
• Support for the research on the digital PDD methodologies.
• Engagement in project meetings as appropriate, communication with the project partners and reporting to the Work Package Leader(s).
• Work on other project deliverables and dissemination as necessary.
• Collaboration with partners on INSPIRE’s other work packages and participation in project meetings.
• Support of the overall project administration and management as necessary.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1. Masters in Political Science or related discipline.
2. Proven experience in engaging in secondary research and ability to synthesize complex information in an academic environment.
3. Demonstratable interests in research on one of, or a combination of, the following themes: democracy, democratic innovations, participatory governance, and inclusion.
4. Excellent English communication skills and proven attention to detail in written work.
5. Ability to fulfil administrative and reporting tasks.
6. Proven ability to deliver work to deadlines.
7. Proven ability to work independently, without direct supervision.
8. Commitment, teamworking skills, organizational abilities, and the ability to coordinate an international project.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of leading a scoping review.
2. Track-record of academic or policy publications on the themes of: democracy, democratic innovations, participatory governance, and inclusion.
3. Enrolment in a Research Degree Programme.

Closing date: 15.4.24

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