Research Assistant/Associate in Foreign Direct Investment Policy (Fixed Term)

A position exists for a Research Assistant/Associate at the Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, to work on foreign direct investment policy. In particular, how the structures and capabilities of national and regional industrial value chains and innovation systems can attract FDI; and how, in turn, FDI influences economic value creation and capture within these systems.

The RA will undertake independent and collaborative research under the guidance of Dr Eoin O'Sullivan (Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy), in collaboration with Drs Guendalina Anzolin and Viktoria Doeme.  The post holder will be located in West Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.

The key responsibilities and duties are:

Research on the following topics: 

• The relationships between R&D and manufacturing (e.g. importance of proximity and co-innovation), and FDI; and the implications for government FDI policies
• The role that FDI in different industrial activities can have in facilitating value creation and value capture processes (within different national and regional ecosystems) 
• The role of intermediate R&D institutes (e.g. Research & Technology Organisations) in supporting national and regional attractiveness for FDI. 

Other tasks will include:

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or collaborative research
• Write up research work for presentation / publication
• Manage own research and administrative activities, with guidance if required
• Communicate technical materials to academics / policymakers
• Build external contacts with government stakeholders
• Plan and manage own research activity in collaboration with others

Required qualifications, experience and skills include:

• Has obtained (or is close to obtaining) a PhD in economics, engineering or management
• Research experience in industrial or innovation economics, R&D policy or management
• Research experience in relevant policy topics (e.g: regional innovation policy, manufacturing policy)
• Record of publishing high quality policy-related research outputs (commensurate with career stage)
• Experience in mixing quantitative and qualitative analyses.
• Experience of systematic analysis of policy practitioner literature and/or economic policy evidence
• Experience of engaging with policy officials
• Strong writing skills, including ability to communicate complex concepts to stakeholders

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Salary Ranges:

Research Assistant: £29,605 - £33,966; Research Associate: £36,024 - £44,263

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the apply button above.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact:

• Dr Eoin O'Sullivan ([email protected] ) for queries of a technical nature related to the role
• Geraldine Guceri ([email protected] ) for queries related to the application process

Please quote reference NM41132 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.