Research Associate

12993BR

School of Psychology

Research

Advert

Research Associate 

We have an exciting opportunity for a post-doctoral Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary team investigating public perspectives and acceptance of low-carbon cooling and storage as part of the flagship CAST centre . We are looking for a motivated individual who is able to develop the theoretical and methodological aspects of the project, together with the Co-Investigators of the grant. 

The successful candidate will have qualitative social science research skills and an enthusiastic approach to interviewing and running workshops with members of the public from diverse backgrounds. They will also work closely with another Research Associate based at Exeter University who is responsible for understanding the policy dimensions of low-carbon cooling solutions. 

The post is open to candidates from a range of social science backgrounds but will require prior expertise and relevant knowledge in the general field of public engagement with energy, climate change and sustainability.  

While we have a vibrant research community as part of the CAST centre, the University is participating in blended ways of working . Some travel for data collection will be required.

For more information about the project or any informal enquiries, please contact Dr Christina Demski via: [email protected] 

Period of appointment: Full time, fixed term for a maximum of 30 months and available immediately.

Salary - £34,304 - £40,927 per annum (Grade 6)

Date advert posted: Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Closing Date: Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”

Job Description

Main Function

To conduct excellent and impactful research within the Flex-Cool-Store project based at Cardiff University, specifically focusing on qualitative research into the social acceptability of cooling technologies and networks. To contribute to interdisciplinary research on understanding future cooling demand and contribute to the success of the wider project as well as the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST). 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To plan and conduct qualitative research (e.g. interviews, deliberative workshops) to explore public acceptance of cooling technologies and networks, and produce high-impact outputs (e.g. academic publications, policy briefings)
• To liaise with other project researchers (e.g. on technical work packages) to deliver research in line with the scientific objectives of Flex-Cool-Store project.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including funding proposals.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project, preparing research ethics and governance applications, and implementing procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field
• To take part in knowledge-transfer activities, including collaborative meetings with other research groups.
• To maintain knowledge and understanding within the field/specialism, transforming and applying knowledge acquired from scholarship to research.
• To publish in high quality peer-reviewed national and international journals.
• To engage effectively with, and communicate your research to, wide-ranging audiences (including academics, policy-makers, industry, third sector and publics) through public/stakeholder engagement activities.
• To ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related social science subject

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2. Experience of conducting and analysing qualitative social or psychological research
3. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:

i. A suitable social science discipline, e.g. environmental risk research, psychology, human geography, science and technology studies
ii. Sustainable or low-carbon technology acceptance and behaviours/practices
iii. Qualitative social science methods, especially interview and/or deliberative methods

4. Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field of public engagement/understandings of issues such as climate change, energy and sustainability.

5. Proven ability to plan, implement, analyse and write-up an innovative and independent research programme

6. Proven ability to publish in high-impact journals.

Communication and Team Working
7. Excellent organisational and time management skills and an ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
8. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

Other
9. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within research and impact work
10. Evidence of self-motivation and ability to work independently with a commitment to develop themselves as world-class academic leaders

Desirable Criteria

1. Proven ability to be successful in competitive research funding
2. Evidence of collaborations with industry, policy and/or third sector.
3. Proven ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance research activities.
4. Experience of contributing to or conducting interdisciplinary research
5. Experience of supervising and directing students or research assistants.

Additional Information

Evidencing Criteria - It is School of Psychology’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure when submitting this document/attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number.
If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed.

Cardiff School of Psychology

We are recognised internationally for sustained excellence in research, impact and research-led teaching. We are a large School with over 50 academic staff, over 600 undergraduates and 150 postgraduate students. In the last assessment the School attained the highest rating of ‘excellent’ for its teaching from the HEFCW Teaching Quality Assessment Panel.
Many individuals in the School are leading figures in their research areas. In the last Research Excellence Framework we entered as a unit of over 80 staff with our colleagues in Psychological medicine. We were placed 2nd in our topic area across the UK. We have state of the art laboratories and experimental expertise across the range of psychology, and are currently building one of the largest and best equipped imaging centres in Europe (see: sites.cubric.cardiff.ac.uk).
Our collective aim is to understand the psychological and biological foundations of behaviour at both individual and group levels. The research undertaken in the School ranges from 'synapse to society', and includes normal behaviour in development and adulthood, the breakdown of cognition after stress, trauma and in neurological and/or genetic conditions, as well as key psychological issues of broad importance to society, such as prejudice, reproductive health and understanding risk. The School also contributes to cross-disciplinary University Research Institutes in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sustainable Places, and Energy Systems Research. 

Job Category

Academic - Research