Postdoctoral Research Associate

Up to two posts are available on a part-time (from 0.4FTE) or full-time basis. We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements. These are available from February on a fixed term basis until March 2027

This position could be an opportunity for an internal secondment, with approval from your current line manager.

Summary of the role

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Dr Darren Moore. This Education Endowment Foundation funded post is available from 1 February 2026 until 31 March 2027. The successful applicant will contribute to a systematic literature review as part of the Education Endowment Foundation-funded project, Understanding School and Classroom Climate and its Impact on Pupil Outcomes. Working collaboratively within a research team, they will synthesise evidence to develop a robust, research-informed conceptual framework of school and classroom climate.

The post will include conducting a mixed methods systematic review of literature on school and classroom climate and its impact on pupil outcomes. The postholder will work collaboratively to analyse and synthesise research findings, contribute to developing an evidence-based conceptual framework, and identify approaches that improve pupil outcomes. They will help produce practical guidance and resources for schools, including definitions and frameworks for measuring classroom climate, and prepare reports and presentations to share findings with academic and practitioner audiences. 

About you

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to:

• conduct systematic literature reviews and apply rigorous inclusion/exclusion criteria
• analyse and synthesise evidence from multiple sources
• understand school and classroom climate concepts and their impact on pupil outcomes
• Analyse qualitative and/or quantitative data from across educational studies

• translate research findings into clear, practical, evidence-informed models
• prepare reports, guidance documents, and presentations for both academic and practitioner audiences

• work within a research team and engage with stakeholders
• manage tasks and meet deadlines within a funded project

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

Further information

For further information please contact Dr Darren Moore, email d.moore@exeter.ac.uk.

The closing date for completed applications is 7th January 2026.  Interviews are expected to take place shortly after.

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