Research Assistant - Horizon Europe

Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a fixed-term Research Assistant to join the School of Social Sciences this Summer 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity to work as a part-time Research Assistant to support the development of a Horizon Europe grant proposal on issues relating to irregular migration, organised crime and European asylum governance.

This part-time, four-month, fixed-term role is paid on an hourly basis (approximately 69.5h total) between July and November 2025.

As Research Assistant, you will work closely with the project’s Senior Investigators, Dr. Jasmine Bhatia (Birkbeck College) and Dr. Yuan Yi Zhu (Leiden University). You will contribute to various aspects of proposal development, including background research, literature reviews, and methodological design, as well as assist with drafting and editing grant materials, coordinating contributions from collaborators, and helping to organise a preparatory workshop with academic and policy partners.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in major international funding applications, work closely with a multidisciplinary team, and deepen your engagement with applied research on migration and security.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates with expertise in asylum law, irregular migration, or transnational organised crime. Prior experience in grant writing and/or collaborative research projects is an additional advantage.

The role is ideally suited to a postgraduate, DPhil/PhD student, or early-career postdoctoral researcher in politics, law, public policy, international development, or a related discipline.

Hours are flexible and applicants may work remotely, but occasional travel to Central London will be required. Please note that applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

If you have experience or interest in roles such as Research Fellow, Research Associate, or Academic Researcher, this position could be the perfect fit for you. Join us at Birkbeck as a leading London University with a unique mission for widening participation, and apply with us today.

Salary and benefits:
Actual £21.12 per hour. Grade 6 (£38,443 - £43,636 per annum FTE) on the College's London Pay Scale which includes a consolidated London weighting allowance.

Benefits of working at Birkbeck: a competitive salary and pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, hybrid and flexibility offered, generous benefits & training and development and a central location in Bloomsbury, Euston, London.

Contract:
Four-month, fixed-term, part-time contract July-November 2025 (69.5 hours in total). Remote position offered with occasional travel to Central London. Please submit a CV for consideration. Closing date: Sunday, 20 July 2025. Interview date: Friday, 25 July 2025.

Enquiries:
If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Dr. Jasmine Bhatia at jasmine.bhatia@bbk.ac.uk.

If you have difficulty using the recruitment portal, please contact jobs@bbk.ac.uk providing your name and the job reference number of the position. While we are happy to respond to all informal enquiries, only formal applications through the online system will be considered.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community. The College is committed to improving the gender and cultural diversity of its workforce, holding an Athena SWAN award and operating Disability Confident & Mindful Employer schemes.

Advert information