Senior Research Fellow

Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy

We seek to recruit a Senior Research Fellow to lead a multi-wave randomised controlled field experiment. This UK Research and Innovation funded post is available from 01 May 2024 to 30 April 2025.

The successful applicant will work with Dr Paul A. O’Keefe to develop a novel social-psychological intervention promoting a growth mindset of opportunity, and to evaluate its effects on employment, economic, and social outcomes across multiple follow-ups. The post will involve designing and programming the intervention and follow-up surveys; recruiting participants and executing data collection; analysing the data, writing up the results for publication, conference presentations; writing competitive grant proposals to extend the work. 

About you

Applicants will be able to contribute to the development of research strategies; participate in the overall management of the College in areas such as strategic planning, budget management and business planning; plan and deliver research, consultancy or similar programmes and actively seek and secure research funding.

The successful applicant will possess a PhD in social-personality psychology, organisational behaviour, or related discipline with a strong track record of post-doctoral experience in designing and publishing social-psychological mindset interventions. They will be a nationally recognised authority in social psychology or organisational psychology, with substantial expertise in mindset interventions, including high-impact publishing in this area (e.g., in leading journals), advanced statistical analysis (structural equation modelling and multilevel modelling), and evidence of success securing competitive grant funding for future mindset projects.

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

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact, and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high-performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

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).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Dr. Paul A. O’Keefe, e-mail [email protected].