Research Assistant (Public Engagement Officer) (111386-0326)

Position Type: Fixed Term

Duration: 5 Year Fixed Term Contract

Hours: 21.9 hours per week / 0.6 FTE

Salary:  £31,236 to £34,610 per annum, pro rata

About the Role  

Informal Queries

• For informal queries about the role, please contact Dr Alexander N. Baker (Assistant Professor) at alexander.baker@warwick.ac.uk

Background Checks

• This role will require a Enhanced DBS check with child's barred list.
• If you are included on a child barred list, you will be breaking the law by applying for this role.

We are looking to hire a candidate to join the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group; who will lead, deliver and develop public engagement and outreach programmes in partnership with the Royal Institution of Great Britain (Ri), Warwick Institute of Engagement (WIE) and the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group’s (BHCG) collaborators.

This will include working with schools and the wider public to inform, educate, and inspire people to engage with the physical sciences (with a focus on Chemistry), and raise awareness of NTDs.

This will be achieved nationally through bespoke lectures and workshops, and internationally working with science communicators to curate suites of podcasts and videos through BBC sounds, TikTok and Youtube etc, exploring chemistry, snakebite research and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

The role will include research as part of the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group, notably supporting the delivery of longitudinal prospective cohort studies with school students and university students to determine the impact of public engagement on the perception of Chemistry. More broadly the role will help develop a public engagement research culture.

The role is part-time (0.6FTE) and funded by an EPSRC funded project.

About You  

The ideal candidate will have experience in public engagement and schools outreach in Chemistry (or other Physical Sciences) or have experience teaching Chemistry. They will be in the early stages of developing their own independent science communication/public engagement career or teaching career. They will be passionate about Chemistry and Chemistry teaching.

They will have an interest in delivering impactful and measurable engagement, with experience of tracking the impact of engagement through surveys, questionnaires, focus groups etc.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below.

About the Department  

The Department of Chemistry at Warwick is a thriving community of students, academics, researchers, and support staff.

Our fundamental research pushes boundaries in all major fields of Chemistry. Through collaborations with the wider science community and industry, our applied work aims to tackle huge global issues from antimicrobial resistance, to solar energy harvesting, and sustainable materials.

We provide an inclusive, vibrant and friendly environment where our students have dedicated support to explore their passion for chemistry.

Athena SWAN Silver Award

We are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. Both the Department of Chemistry and the University of Warwick hold Athena SWAN silver awards, a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression, and success for all in academia. We provide a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment, recognising that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010. We are supportive of staff with caring responsibilities.

About the University  

We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK.* Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent.**

Find out more about us at warwick.ac.uk/about/.

* World University Ranking 2026, Complete University Guide 2026

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

How to Apply  

CLOSING DEADLINE: Sunday 12 April 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)

To apply, please click APPLY below and submit your application by the closing deadline. 

You will be asked to include a CV and cover letter. Within these documents, please:

1. Outline youremployment and education history (including your most recent employment).
2. Outline the reasons for your interest in this position.
3. Demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the role with clear reference to each of the essential and desirable criteria in the Job Description (PDF attached below).

• Interview Date: To be confirmed
• Start Date: 1 April 2026

Applications must be submitted by the closing deadline. Only applications submitted through our Careers Portal will be considered.

You are welcome to include any careers breaks you may have taken (e.g. parental/caring/long-term sick leave).

Please note that if you do not evidence the essential criteria, the hiring panel may not be able to shortlist your application. For guidance on how to format a cover letter, see here.

What we Offer  

We provide a comprehensive range of benefits, including:

• An attractive pension scheme.
• 26 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
• Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
• Onsite childcare facilities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements. Find out more about our flexible working arrangements.

We are proud to be a Living Wage employer.

Our Commitment to Inclusion  

To find out more about our commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion, please see: Our Commitments | University of Warwick

Job Description  

JD - Research Assistant (Public Engagement Officer) (111386).pdf – 151KB Opens in a new window

Right to Work in the UK   

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the 'Apply' button.