Research Officer

Hours: 35 per week

Contract: Fixed term position until April 2022

Location: Singleton Campus, Swansea

Main Purpose of the Post

The PERCEPTIONS project is funded by the European Commission as a part of the Horizon2020 programme. It examines how Europe and the EU are seen by people who have immigrated there or intend to do so. It studies what perceptions of Europe exist among this group, how they are formed, whether they correspond to reality and how they influence migration decisions. It also considers how the flow of information could be distorted and whether inaccurate information could lead to a threat to the security of migrants (e.g. through dangerous border crossings) or even national security (e.g. radicalisation).

The PERCEPTIONS project brings together 25 partners from twelve different European regions, as well as three non-European countries. The main objectives of the PERCEPTIONS project are to (1) identify narratives, images and perceptions of Europe held by migrants and people who intend to migrate, (2) investigate how different narratives could lead to problems due to a mismatch of expectation and reality, to migrants and even to national security; and (3) create toolkits of creative and innovative measures to react or even counteract on distorted information, considering social, societal and structural aspects.

Main duties include: 

1. Contribute to the reports to the European Commission, periodic reporting, internal communications, project meetings, internal reviews of deliverables
2. Develop mechanisms for community participation in decision-making and development processes
3. Elaborate creative awareness materials (games, comics, videos, art objects) and services for first-line practitioners, civil society organisations, local community activist and migrant organisations
4. Develop a framework for creative community engagement and impact assessment, including handbook and visualisations for relevant user groups
5. Contribute information (articles, knowledge materials, documents and best practices) for the development of the project’s Web Platform

Please see the attached job description for full details of this post.

Person Specification

Essential criteria:

1. A postgraduate qualification in Human Geography or equivalent
2. Evidence of active engagement, personal role, and contribution to writing and publishing research papers, particularly for refereed journals.
3. Evidence of the capacity for active engagement in designing research and writing, or contributing to writing, applications for external research funding.
4. Ability to demonstrate significant independence of focus and direction in research – determining ’what, why, when and with whom' to progress work.
5. Ability to develop end-user and community networks and mobilise these links for successful community engagement

Further information

Informal enquiries: s.v.shubin@swansea.ac.uk 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s H2020 Research & Innovation Action under Grant Agreement No 833870

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