Research Fellow (Child Criminal Exploitation)

We are currently recruiting a Research Fellow to 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. 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.

Travel will be expected across NI and ROI at regular intervals, with international travel at time.

The purpose of this role will be to test and evaluate new and innovative approaches to crime prevention. 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.

About the person:

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 (within 6 months).
• Sufficient experience of engaging with statutory agencies (e.g. police, probation, education) or communities within a research environment.
• Sufficient research experience working on a project that relates to youth violence, community violence, and/or CCE.
• Experience in participatory and qualitative research designs and the analyses of qualitative data.
• Ability to develop high-quality publications record that is REF returnable.
• Experience of communicating research to lay audiences.

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 12 months or until 31 August 2026, whichever is soonest. 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.

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