Research Associate/Research Fellow, WISERD

13279BR

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Research

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Research Associate/Research Fellow, WISERD

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences is looking to recruit a Research Associate/Research Fellow to work within the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods Research Centre (WISERD) that is located within the school. 

The WISERD Education Multi-Cohort Study (WMCS) has been collecting longitudinal data since 2013 through following the progress of four cohorts of children and young people as they progress through schools in Wales. You will be part of an interdisciplinary research team, collectively working to support the WMCS, which will involve working closely with schools, teachers and children. This will involve data collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.

The post will be based within WISERD (at Cardiff University) and will be line managed by Prof Sally Power in association with Prof Chris Taylor and alongside other researchers.

Salary:
£34,304 - £40,927 per annum (Grade 6) or
£43,434 - £50,296 per annum (Grade 7)

This post is full time (35 hours per week), available immediately and fixed term until 31st July 2022.

For further details contact Professor Sally Power, [email protected] 

We welcome applications from those looking for a secondment opportunity.

Date advert posted: Tuesday, 4 January 2022

Closing date: Tuesday, 1 February 2022 

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.

Job Description

• To conduct research with the WMCS and within WEDL and to contribute to the overall research performance of WISERD, the School and the University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students. 
• At Grade 7 – to provide research leadership and project management of the WMCS
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals
• At Grade 7 – to seek out and explore other funding opportunities for the WMCS and to independently develop research proposals, acting as PI when necessary
• To promote the use of WMCS data
• To contribute to the day to day research and capacity building activities within the overall agreed research programme, undertaking research by preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcomes of fieldwork and qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis (using appropriate statistical techniques).  This will involve working away from Cardiff for significant periods in the different regions of Wales
• At Grade 7 - to liaise with the Welsh Government and HEFCW about the content and coverage of the WMCS
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• At Grade 7 – to supervise the work of research associates working on the WMCS
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
• To participate in School research activities.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions,   explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects

Other

• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Fluent Welsh Speaker
• Proven experience of obtaining, liaising and maintaining access with schools in conducting research and working with or undertaking research with children or young people
• Experience of giving presentations at conferences and meetings
• Experience of undertaking interviews and / or focus groups with a variety of research participants, including children
•  Expertise in managing large-scale datasets (quantitative and qualitative)
• Experience of engaging policy makers, practitioners and key stakeholders in research and research findings
• Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.
• A valid driving licence and willingness and ability to work away from Cardiff for significant periods when required.

NOTE

The Person Specification is split into 2 sections: essential and desirable.  Please demonstrate clearly how you meet all of the essential criteria.  Where possible you should give examples of how, when and where you have used your experience, knowledge, specific skills and abilities to match those required for this particular job role.

Please ensure that you communicate this fully by creating a supporting statement document, listing all of the criteria and commenting against each one as to how you meet them.  This will need to be completed before you begin making your application on line as you will be required to upload it. 

When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you put your name and the  vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for NAME XXXXBR.’

The desirable section contains a list of skills, qualifications and experience that it would be beneficial for the jobholder to have.

All short-listing decisions will be based initially on essential criteria, with desirable being used to further select or deselect candidates as appropriate. 

We interview those candidates who are the closest match to the identified criteria.

Additional Information

Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods
WISERD is a collaborative venture between the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea and South Wales. Its aims are: to build upon and develop existing expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and methodologies; to develop and integrate a coherent set of research data relating to Wales; to build networks of researchers and research capacity across Wales in the economic and social sciences, as well as contributing to UK wide research capacity building; to explore the relationships between research data, research methods and the development and understanding of policy; to develop a sustainable increase in the quantitative research base across the social sciences in Wales through academic appointments and training; to increase collaborative interdisciplinary research grant applications and interaction with policy makers and the private sector through consultancy. 

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences
The School of Social Sciences is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and teaching across a range of subject areas, including social policy, sociology, criminology, education, social psychology, and social work.

Over 220 staff (including over 30 professors and 60 researchers) are involved in a substantial programme of research - both fundamental and strategic - funded by ESRC, AHRC, MRC, charitable foundations, the European Union, Central Government departments and agencies and voluntary associations. Since its creation in 1999, the School has received over 25 million pounds for funded research.  In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework the School was ranked third for research quality in Sociology and joint fifth for research quality in Education. Cardiff University was ranked second for research impact and fifth overall for research quality.

The School has a large student population, with almost 1000 undergraduates, and 300 postgraduates (including 100 doctoral students).  The School has ESRC recognition for doctoral training in the fields of Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology, Education, and Science, Technology and Innovation. Our taught and postgraduate research programmes welcome students from around the world.

The School hosts a number of research centres and institutes, including the Universities’  Police Studies Institute (UPSI), now part of the University’s Crime & Security Research Institute; Wales Institute for Economic Research & Data (WISERD); Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer); Cardiff Unit for Research and Evaluation in Medical and Dental Education (CUREMeDE); and the Seafarers’ International Research Centre (SIRC). Many of the School’s research centres will soon be housed in the Social Science Research Park (SPARK), which is currently being developed as part of Cardiff University’s new Innovation Campus.

Further details of the School’s activities can be found on our home page: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/social-sciences  

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in academia. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We actively encourage women to apply. We will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities.

Job Category

Academic - Research