Research Associate

Role Description

Department

As one of the longest-established and most distinguished in the UK, the Department of Sociology has played an important role in the development of the discipline internationally. Our colleagues’ commitment to research resulted in the Department being ranked by the Times Higher Education as fourth in the UK for research and first for research impact.

We are a collegiate department with a vibrant, research-intensive group of staff. We are based in a modern building on the University’s East Campus.

Role

A Research Associate position is available to work on an ESRC funded project: ‘My home, my garden story: exploring how people living with dementia access and use their garden in everyday life’. The project explores the role of gardens in the everyday lives of people with dementia who are living at home, their households and wider care networks.

Working with Dr Christina Buse (PI) and the wider project team, the role will involve conducting research with people living with dementia, their households and wider care networks, using qualitative, creative and collaborative methods. You will lead on recruiting participants, gathering, analysing and coding the data, and contribute to conference presentations and academic publications. The role involves working collaboratively with our partners – a working group of people living with dementia - and a wider advisory group including landscape architects, garden designers and occupational therapists. It will involve collaboratively developing creative and practice-based outputs and events.

The post is available from the 1st October 2024 to 30th June 2026. Applications are welcome for full time working although part time and flexible working options will also be considered.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form. Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• PhD in Sociology or other closely aligned discipline or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of critical social science literature on dementia, ageing and/or place to engage in high quality research
• Knowledge and experience of a range of qualitative research techniques and methodologies
• Highly developed communication skills to engage effectively with a wide ranging audience, both orally and in writing, using a range of media
• Experience of conducting qualitative research,and applying ethical considerations to the collecting and managing of qualitative data
• Ability to write up research work for publication in high profile journals and engage in public dissemination

Interview date: 24 September 2024

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the Apply button above.

Applicants are required to submit a covering letter (maximum 600 words) and a CV of no more than 4 pages. Please do not submit any supplementary documents (publications, student feedback etc.).

For informal enquiries: please contact Christina Buse via email christina.buse@york.ac.uk.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

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