Research Fellow

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to 6 months

Background

You will work with the research project Principal Investigator, Dr Jason Lowther, and colleagues in NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborative (HDRC) Sandwell, to examine the research culture of local authorities in England. The HDRC aims to transform the research culture and infrastructure across Sandwell Council so that their work is evidence-informed, robustly evaluated, and reflects the needs and values of local communities. This 6 month project includes a systematic literature review, complemented by analysis of recent research in the council, and further interviews in other HDRCs / councils. 

The School of Government is intellectually vibrant with an excellent record in both research and teaching. It provides a supportive environment, enabling colleagues to engage internationally, build networks and deliver excellent teaching and research. Resources are available to facilitate research, grant capture, and impact and engagement activities. Staff are encouraged and supported to be innovative in their teaching, enabling students to thrive and build firm foundations in the discipline. 

The School of Government comprises the Department of Political Science and International Studies, the Department of Public Administration and Policy (incorporating the Institute of Local Government Studies), and the International Development Department. We are one of the largest Schools of Government in the United Kingdom – home to more than 90 full-time academic staff, more than 1,500 undergraduate and taught postgraduate students, and more than 70 doctoral researchers. 

Main Duties

• Develop research objectives and proposals for research, with assistance of the PI
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews 
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods 
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research 
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promote equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• A PhD (or near to completion) in public policy or a related field
• Experience in conducting a literature review 
• Experience in thematic qualitative analysis of interviews (ideally using Nvivo)
• An interest in and/or experience of working in local government (ideally)
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Jason Lowther, email: j.lowther@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

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