Research Fellow, Astrobiology Ethics

Unit :  Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Salary :  £45,585 to £52,815
Location :  Milton Keynes
Please quote reference :  21539
Fixed term contract for 3 years with possibility of being made permanent. Full-Time (37 hours)
Closing Date :  26 April, 2024 - 12:00

Interview date: 13/14 May, 2024

Flexible working patterns will be considered.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be at least once per week.

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

About AstrobiologyOU

AstrobiologyOU is an interdisciplinary research group addressing the scientific, ethical and governance challenges associated with the advancement of astrobiology and related space exploration missions. It spans three Faculties: The Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the Faculty of Business and Law, and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, bringing together 60 members with expertise in science, international development and governance.  The Group’s activities are supported by funding from UK Research councils, The UK Space Agency, The European Space Agency, and commercial activities, and has grown to its current strengths through a £7.4 million investment from Research England’s Expanding Excellence in England scheme.

AstrobiologyOU is committed to building an inclusive research environment.  The Group supports flexible working arrangements, within the limits of the post, and particularly welcomes applications from groups traditionally under-represented in STEM.  

The role

The Open University is recruiting an Astrobiology Research Fellow.

The postholder will be welcomed into AstrobiologyOU, an interdisciplinary research group investigating the feasibility of life beyond the Earth, and the associated scientific, governance and ethical implications. The role would be based within the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences.  Your role will be to lead and foster interdisciplinary research on space ethics and sustainable futures in space.

You should have a strong track record in research aligned with social studies and humanities of outer space and work at the interface between social science and science.

Your programme will result in high-impact and highly cited REF-eligible publications in peer-reviewed publications. You will generate income through research grants and/or collaboration with industry.

Skills and experience

• PhD in or recent experience in space/planetary ethics or a relative cognate subject area, including philosophy, geography, governance, cultural studies, or anthropology, and experience working with scientists addressing astrobiology or space-related issues.
• A strong record of research and/or knowledge exchange that is commensurate to the position.
• A track record of independent research that is shown by peer-reviewed publications.

The full summary of duties and person specification can be found within the Job Description.

If you would like to discuss the application or recruitment process before making an application, please contact Donna Elstob at Resourcing Hub on 01908 655544 or [email protected] quoting the reference 21539.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days.

How to apply

Unless otherwise stated in the advert, all applications are completed online via the instructions on The OU Job’s page. Applications submitted via 3rd party websites will not be received.

Access details for disabled applicants are available from the Resourcing Hub, telephone: 01908 655544, quoting the vacancy reference above.

To apply for this role please submit the following as one document;

• CV
• Personal statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.
• Research plan, up to 1,000 words. You should outline your research and impact plan for the next three years and beyond, and who you plan to collaborate with, both internally to AstrobiologyOU and the broader university community and externally, both nationally and internationally. Also, how you will obtain funding to support your research.

Please save your document with the following file name as appropriate to the vacancy you are applying for: “reference no - surname - first initial” e.g. 12345 - Smith - J.

You will need to have your documents ready ahead of submitting the electronic application. Please click on the APPLY NOW button below to be redirected to our application page.

APPLY NOW

You will receive updates regarding your application from [email protected] . Please ensure this email address is added to your list of trusted senders so it does not go to your junk folder.

You can view your application communications on the Candidate portal .

Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.  We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.  We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

Optional information : 

Email : Resourcing Hub  

Job related information : 

Attachment	Size

Attachment	Size
21539 Research Fellow Job Description 22 March.docx	151.01 KB

• Terms and Conditions - Research Staff  (PDF)

• Terms and Conditions - Research Staff  (Word document)

Posting Date :  25 March, 2024 - 10:00