Research Assistant in Public Services

About the College/Department

At the heart of shaping future professionals and creative thinkers, the College of Health and Humanities brings together two dynamic and diverse schools: 

School of Humanities, Law and Creative Arts 

Celebrating creativity, critical thinking, and cultural exploration. This school nurtures writers, performers, thinkers and artists, offering opportunities to grow intellectually and creatively across subjects like English, History, Creative Writing, Fine Art, and Media. 

The School brings together a wide range of subjects, including: 

• Humanities 
• Law 
• Journalism and Media 
• Policing, Criminology and Social Sciences 
• Creative Arts 

Whether exploring the past, shaping future policy, telling powerful stories, or creating inspiring work, our students develop the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to society and the creative industries. 

Together, the College of Health and Humanities delivers a rich, interdisciplinary environment where students gain the skills, experience, and inspiration to make a meaningful impact in society. 

About the Discipline

The discipline of Policing, Criminology and Social Sciences at the University of Derby explores the complexities of crime, justice, society, and human behaviour. Grounded in applied knowledge and social impact, our programmes are designed to equip students with both theoretical insight and practical skills to make a difference in diverse communities and justice settings. 

We offer pathways that reflect real-world challenges—from contemporary policing and investigative techniques to criminological theory, psychology, sociology, and the broader social sciences. Our strong links with police forces, criminal justice agencies, charities, and policy organisations help shape an applied learning experience underpinned by current practice and policy debates. 

With a commitment to inclusivity, critical thinking, and societal change, we empower students to engage with issues such as inequality, public safety, mental health, and restorative justice.  

Our academics are engaged in impactful research and community outreach, helping to influence local, national, and global agendas. 

About the Role

This role will support the Public Services Research Theme, which aligns with the University’s strategic priorities for cross-disciplinary, high-impact research. The theme aims to lead transformative research in public services that drives societal change, informs policy, and enhances public well-being. 

The role involves working across multiple exciting projects across the theme and assisting researchers with quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, supporting dissemination of findings, and contributing to wider research activity, including funding bids and research events.

About You

The ideal candidate will have experience of applied research, with a strong working knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. You will be confident in supporting data collection and analysis across a range of study designs and be able to work rigorously with sensitive information. Experience of working with vulnerable populations and/or handling sensitive data ethically and professionally is essential. Experience of conducting research or working in applied settings such as prisons, schools or mental health environments, demonstrating the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders in complex, real-world contexts, would be beneficial.

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Professor Nicholas Blagden, Professor in Criminological Psychology via n.blagden@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

For more information and to apply on-line, please click the “Apply” button above.

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