Research Associate

Role Description

The University of York wishes to recruit a full time, 24-month Research Associate for a project entitled Envisioning Vulnerability and Safety Otherwise: Artivist Knowledge on Gender-Based Violence in Mexico, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. We are looking for an excellent candidate trained in the social sciences and/or critical art studies, ideally with knowledge/expertise in gender-based violence, creative research methods, Latin America, and/or social movement studies. The successful candidate will be fluent in both English and Spanish. The post-holder will work with Dr Harriet Gray at the University of York and with Eréndira Derbez and Mora Fernández at La Casa Mandarina in Mexico City.

The project explores feminist ARTivism in Mexico, using arts-based methods including zine making and photovoice and working in collaboration with Mexican artivists. It will explore the power of artivism to imagine new possibilities for understanding and generating safety outside of the limiting criminal justice frameworks provided by the state.

You will join a vibrant postdoctoral community in the Department of Politics and International Relations. We will work to ensure that the post supports your career trajectory and that it provides professional development opportunities. The start date for the post is as soon as possible after 1 October 2024.

Role

• To work with a website designer to establish a project website. To manage that website, including writing blog posts and running an Instagram feed.
• To work collaboratively with other members of the team to recruit participants and execute fieldwork, including spending around 10 weeks in Mexico. This will include facilitating zine making workshops together with other members of the team and taking the lead on collecting data using photovoice.
• To contribute to writing academic outputs, together with other members of the project team.
• To translate the co-created zine from Spanish into English.
• To work collaboratively with other members of the project team to organise an exhibition of the co-produced artwork in York.
• To disseminate the work through attendance at academic conferences and exhibitions.
• To undertake other activities, as necessary, towards the achievement of the project aims.
• To develop and initiate collaborative working internally and externally, duties to include: the building of internal contacts and participation in internal networks; participation in and identification of external networks in order to share information and identify potential opportunities for collaboration; attendance at and contribution to relevant meetings.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• PhD in a relevant subject area (e.g. sociology, gender studies, critical art studies, social movement studies).
• Knowledge on one or more of the substantive research themes, e.g. gender-based violence, Latin America, artivism.
• Knowledge and experience of using qualitative research methodologies, ideally including creative and arts-based methods.
• Research expertise in an area that will complement and enhance the department’s research strategy and goals.
• Experience of conducting both independent and collaborative research.
• Experience of writing up research for publication.
• Ability to work as part of a team, and also to work independently.

Interview date: TBC

For informal enquiries: Please contact Dr Harriet Gray (harriet.gray@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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