Durham University - Department of Sociology and Social Care

Location: Durham

Salary: £33,797 to £40,322

Hours: Part Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 27th July 2020

Closes: 16th August 2020

Job Ref: 20000380

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Sociology with a particular emphasis on violence and abuse: in intimate relationships, in hate relationships, on campus, in communities. The postholder will provide dedicated assistance to Professor Catherine Donovan during her period of appointment as Head of Department. Professor Donovan is working on a range of projects with internal and external collaborators and the PDRA will provide support for these as required in line with the duties below.

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• Contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of research projects.
• Conduct literature searches and write annotated bibliographies of the literature
• Actively and positively contribute to the Centres for Research into Violence and Abuse and Communities and Social Justice.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of agreed goals and deadlines by discussing with Catherine Donovan and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• Write up results of research work.
• Prepare and deliver presentations on research activities, progress and outcomes to bodies supervising research in a clear and accurate manner.

Broader Responsibilities:

• Liaise with research colleagues/collaborators and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To understand and convey specialist information which needs careful explanation through presentations, discussions and meetings which contribute to the production of research reports and publications.
• To conduct research projects under the direction of Catherine Donovan.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.

This post is fixed term for 2 years to provide support during Professor Donovan’s period of office as Head of Department. As such, the post-holder is employed to work on research which will be led by Professor Donovan. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the work, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.