Research Fellow

Location: Birmingham

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to July 2026

Background

We are recruiting a full-time Research Fellow for two years to work on a Nuffield Foundation-funded research project on Pupil School Mobility in England. The project will use mixed methods to explore different types and pathways of pupil school mobility and their implications for education. 

Further information about the project can be found here:

https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/project/pupil-school-mobility-types-pathways-and-implications-for-education

The Research Fellow will work with the PI, Dr Clara Rübner Jørgensen (University of Birmingham) and Co-I’s Dr Laurence Lessard-Phillips (University of Birmingham) and Dr Thomas Perry (University of Warwick) to conduct research activities, disseminate project findings and engage in impact activities. 

The post holder will have a central role in the research and be expected to take an active part in all elements of the project. This will include taking responsibility for certain aspects of the research, in particular in relation to the qualitative elements of the project, with specific tasks including for

Main Duties

• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as literature reviews, focus groups and research interviews
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Contribute to Departmental/School/Project research-related activities and administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Contributing to and presenting research outputs, including reports, briefings, conferences, seminars and peer reviewed publications.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications. You will also typically hold a PhD (or near to completion) or equivalent in a relevant field.
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to engage with and communicate complex information clearly to a range of audiences, including children and families, schools, local authority staff, researchers, policy makers and others, using different means of communication. 
• Excellent organisation skills
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods.
• Strong interpersonal skills for working in a range of contexts
• Experience of conducting qualitative data collection and analysis
• Ideally experience of working with populations at risk of vulnerability, e.g. children and young people 
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to research specific management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
• Eligibility for DBS check

Informal enquires can be made to Clara Rübner Jørgensen, c.joergensen@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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