Research Fellow

You will be an active member of the School of Social Sciences Education and Social Work (SSESW) and the Stable Lives Safer Streets (SLSS) Research North/South Research Hub.

Funded by the Higher Education Authority of Ireland, SLSS is an ambitious programme of activity that will be delivered over a five-year period. It brings together two academic institutions (University of Limerick and Queen’s University Belfast) who have a history of policy relevant research in the area of youth crime and crime prevention, as well as a community partner (Centre for Effective Services) with expertise in implementation.

Working across key policy priority areas, SLSS will generate new and cutting-edge evidence around youth crime prevention. It will also embed reliable evidence into policy and practice across the Island of Ireland.

The purpose of this role will be to test and evaluate new and innovative approaches to crime prevention such as ‘No Wrong Door’, a multi-agency and collaborative approach to support. Under the joint supervision of Dr. Colm Walsh (QUB) and Dr Catherine Naughton (UL) the successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to policy-relevant and applied research.

Key responsibilities include working with communities to understand complexity, collecting and analysing data, and reporting to a range of audiences.

Travel will be expected across NI and ROI at regular intervals.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have and your application should clearly demonstrate attainment of the following:

Essential criteria:

• An upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) or a Masters degree in Criminology or Social Science Have or be about to obtain a PhD in a relevant subject.
• Noteable experience of working in partnership with statutory agencies (e.g., police, probation, education) OR communities within a research environment.
• Research experience that relates to youth violence, community violence, conflict and/or paramilitarism.
• Significant, relevant research experience in inquiry with individuals with complex needs and/or with communities.
• Experience in participatory and qualitative research designs and the analyses of qualitative data.
• Experience of communicating research to a variety of audiences, including the general public.
• Ability to develop a high-quality publications record that is REF returnable.
• Experience in mixed-method research is desirable.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information on our website.

This post is available for 24 months. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits

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