Research Assistant/Associate (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 year in the first instance.

We are looking for a full-time Research Assistant/Associate to undertake the creation of a number of large datasets on public investment in water and sanitation projects in Britain c.1800 ¿ 1910. These datasets will be used in conjunction with demographic data to evaluate whether investments in water and sanitation were associated with improvements in population health and longevity. The appointee will work closely with Dr Toke Aidt (Faculty of Economics, Cambridge) and Prof. Bernard Harris (Dept of Social Work and Social Policy, Strathclyde).

The Research Assistant/Associate will undertake primary archival work to extract data on loans undertaken by Scottish municipal authorities and by rural local authorities in England and Wales, and will collate previously collected loans data from diverse sources into consistent series for English and Welsh towns. They will also work with Dr Aidt to oversee the transcription of the Local Taxation Returns for Scotland, to clean and assemble the data by town, and to assist in generating contextual variables for regression modelling. The Research Assistant/Associate will be involved in preliminary drafting of a research article and will be a co-author. This post is based in Cambridge because the Local Acts and other archival materials are available there and because the post involves close work with Dr Aidt. However the post may include two short stays in Strathclyde in order to work with Prof. Harris, and further supervision by Prof. Harris will be provided remotely.

The work is funded under an ESRC award 'Water, sanitation and health in the first industrial society: Britain 1780 ¿ 1930' (PI Dr Romola Davenport). The post-holder will work under the supervision of Dr Toke Aidt in the Faculty of Economics.

We are seeking an individual with research experience in the fields of quantitative history or historical demography or geography, with expertise in archival research and experience of working with large datasets. Candidates must have an excellent command of STATA and Excel. The post-holder will be required to manage remotely the transcription of Local Taxation Returns (to be undertaken in India). The post-holder will also be involved in writing up the research for publication. Previous experience of independent research is an advantage and the post-holder is expected to have a PhD in a relevant area of research.

Successful candidates who have not yet received their PhD by November 2023 or immediately thereafter will be employed on University Grade 5 for Research Assistants starting at £29,605 to £33,966 per annum and once awarded their PhD the salary will be upgraded to Grade 7 for Research Associates (Fellowships), starting at £36,024 to £44,263 per annum. Research Associates may also have the possibility of joining a college.

Applications should consist of:

-             a curriculum vitae;

-             expression of interest cover letter;

-             a job market paper or sample chapter from dissertation;

-             supplementary material such as other available research papers can be included; 

Two references will be sought upon receipt of the application and contact details should be included in the cover letter.

Informal inquiries should be directed to Dr Romola Davenport by email, rjd23@cam.ac.uk or to Dr Toke Aidt tsa23@econ.cam.ac.uk.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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