Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences

Post-Doctoral Research Assistant

Job info
Faculty of Engineering and Environment

Ref: EAE/22/13431

Salary: £37,473 - £42,155

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Grade: 6

Closing date: 12/11/2022

Contract Type: Fixed Term until 31/03/2027

Working Type: Full Time

Northumbria is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence.

Ranked in the UK top 50 (Guardian University League Table 2022 ) and Complete University Guide 2023 ), Northumbria recorded the biggest rise of any UK university for research power in the Research Excellence Framework for the second time in 2021 and is now rated within the top 25 in the UK.

At Northumbria, we embrace tomorrow. We pursue new thinking, forge new partnerships, create and exchange new knowledge, and find new solutions. Our inspirational academics, partners and students work together to tackle tomorrow’s challenges head on. We are ready for the future whatever it may hold. We are looking for future colleagues that share our ambition.

Applications are invited for a four-year postdoctoral research position in community engagement and co-design of sustainable drainage systems blue-green infrastructure, funded by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) under the Innovative Resilience Programme.  The successful candidate will be based in the Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences, within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment at Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK, but will be a key part of a multi-disciplinary project partnership including Durham County Council, the Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water, and Arup amongst others.

The project, the Stanley South Community SuDS Innovation Accelerator (SuDS+), aims to establish a community-based approach for designing, delivering, and monitoring Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) that provides multiple benefits to the local community and their environment beyond those traditionally identified during flood risk assessment studies.

As an integral member of the research team, the Post-Doctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) will work with Dr Ed Rollason and Prof Louise Bracken from Northumbria University, as well as working closely with other project partners. There are two elements to the work which the PDRA will undertake. Firstly, ensuring community and stakeholder participation is central to the development and delivery of the project including in the identification, delivery, and sustenance of effective SuDS interventions within the study area (Project Work Package 1 – led by Dr Ed Rollason). This approach is not commonplace in the development of SuDS and there are many opportunities for developing innovative approaches to bringing people and communities into the centre of SuDS decision-making. Secondly, the development of a robust evidence base of the project’s impacts, and an analysis of the barriers and opportunities to developing a scaleable methodology for future SuDS (WP5 – led by Prof Louise Bracken). The PDRA will be a key member of the delivery team, working primarily on these two aspects of the project, although they will be expected to contribute expertise in community participation, social-science enquiry, and impact evaluation to the successful delivery of the other work packages.

The project will involve the application of multiple methods including reviews of literature and policy, interviews, participatory workshops, and data analysis. Work with the public will also include narrative and creative methodologies developed during the project. The PDRA will also coordinate project monitoring and evaluation processes and the maintenance of the Theory of Change in collaboration with the Project Manager and will undertake analysis of barriers/opportunities and lessons learned as the project progresses.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in geography or a related social science discipline. Experience in developing and undertaking community-based research, and/or experience of flood management approaches and technologies is desirable.  The post will commence in early January 2023, with the targeted starting date being 1st Jan, 2023.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Dr Ed Rollason on [email protected] .

To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now', and submit a covering letter, CV including research /education statements, and grants and publications list. Please highlight your highest quality research outputs up to a maximum of 4.  In addition, candidates are asked to provide copies of the top 2 research outputs (Journal / book chapter /practice-based portfolio). Where possible candidates are asked to combine all documents into a single file.

Northumbria is one of the largest universities in the UK with over 37,000 students from 137 countries. Putting students at the heart of an outstanding experience, and with world-leading research and award-winning partnerships, Northumbria is a new kind of excellent university.  Discover more about us . 

Northumbria University is a great place to work.  We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a positive work life balance.  To say thank you, we offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development and more .

We are an on-campus organisation where colleagues work regular patterns of hours and on campus, with some flexibility on the timing of their hours and the location of their work in discussion with their manager. 

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our staff.  We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community.  The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme.  We are also a member of the Euraxess network, which delivers information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.  

We welcome applications from the UK and across the world. Visit our web pages for details about Relocation Assistance . 

Please note this vacancy will close on 12/11/2022