Tutor (Research) MA Photography (0.8FTE, fixed term)

0.8 FTE, Maternity Cover until 31 March 2027

School of Arts & Humanities

The Royal College of Art (RCA) invites applications for the role of Tutor (Research) in Photography, a 0.8 FTE maternity-cover position until 31 March 2027. This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the world’s leading art and design institutions and contribute to the vibrant, research-led culture of the MA Photography programme and the MFA Arts & Humanities.

About the Programme

The MA Photography programme at the RCA is home to a unique, cross-disciplinary community of artists, writers, & researchers working at the forefront of contemporary photographic practice & image-making. We understand photography as an expansive, evolving field encompassing the still & moving image, publishing, performance, installation, social-practice, sound, synthetic media, text, & writing.

Central to the programme’s ethos is a commitment to process, experimentation, and speculation—to exploring photography as a mode of inquiry that is unrestricted by conventional boundaries of material, medium, or genre. Students & staff work together to question what the photographic image is, and what it could become, within contemporary art & cultural discourse.

Our approach to teaching and research engages with photography in relation to social and political debates, intercultural dialogues, & the transformative effects of technological change. We consider the image in the context of ecology, ethics, and representation, encouraging practices that are both critically rigorous and imaginatively bold.

The Role

We are seeking to appoint an artist-researcher whose work and teaching engage the relationship between text & image, broadly understood. The postholder will contribute 0.4 FTE to the MA Photography programme and 0.4 FTE to the MFA Arts & Humanities, including teaching within the Poetics of Care elective.

The successful candidate will bring a contemporary understanding of photography’s expanded field, including its intersections with AI, ecology, and the politics of representation. They will demonstrate sensitivity to the ethical, social, and imaginative dimensions of care—qualities that are central to both programmes’ pedagogical and research culture.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across the School of Arts & Humanities, the Tutor (Research) will contribute to teaching, supervision, assessment, pastoral support, and the broader intellectual life of the RCA. They will also be expected to maintain an active research and professional practice aligned with the College’s commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Person Specification

Essential

• Active artist-researcher with an internationally recognised practice engaging photography & its expanded field.
• Expertise in the relationship between text and image, and/or socially or ethically engaged modes of visual practice.
• Evidence of research excellence and a clear research plan aligned with the College’s standards.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality teaching at postgraduate level.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive, and diverse learning environments.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across disciplines.
• Doctorate (PhD or practice-based equivalent), or equivalent professional standing.

Desirable

• Research or teaching experience related to care, health, ecology, or decolonial practice.
• Interest in AI and the future of photography, with the ability to engage critically with emerging image technologies.
• Experience of successful grant or project funding.
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (or willingness to obtain within two years of appointment).

Join Us

This is a unique opportunity to join a world-renowned institution committed to advancing the future of art, design, and research. If you are an artist-researcher with a passion for teaching & exploring the evolving possibilities of photography, we welcome your application.

Further details: Information Pack

RCA Benefits available here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/work-at-the-rca/staff-benefits/

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