Research Associate

This is a full time temporary role until 1st February 2025

School of Education (SoE)

We are seeking a talented and ambitious researcher to join the School of Education to work on the ESRC funded study, The School Meals Service-Past, Present-and Future

Based primarily at the Walsall Campus, the School of Education provides a range of accredited courses across all phases. The School of Education is part of the Faculty of Education, Health and Well-being. We work with a range of partners with a particular focus on the Black Country and the wider West Midlands. We also have a range of national and international partners.

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join the School of Education to work on the research project, ‘School Meals Service (SMS) – Past, Present – and Future’ funded by the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC). This interdisciplinary project brings together history, education and sociology to inform future policy making on the school meals service. You will work closely with the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators to meet the aims of the research project. The project involves collaborating with project partners UCL and University of Sheffield.

We welcome applications from excellent candidates who can contribute to our successful School of Education and its ambitious plans. To be considered for this Research Associate post you will have completed a PhD in Education and/or Sociology. You will have experience in working on funded research projects, working in schools and managing key stakeholders alongside building these relationships. We are particularly seeking candidates who can demonstrate experience of successfully using qualitative research methods, which include interviews, observation and ethnography.

You will be required to work independently and as part of a team to undertake research activities on the SMS project. These include, conducting literature reviews, co-designing research, collecting data, writing for publication and dissemination at key events inside academia and beyond. You will also be involved in developing funding bids to progress work in this area.

For further information about this role, please contact Dr Gurpinder Singh Lalli, Reader in Education for Social Justice and Inclusion, School of Education, glalli@wlv.ac.uk

The University of Opportunity for Students and Staff

As part of our commitment to ensure the diversity of our staff body reflects those of the student and local communities we serve, we particularly welcome applications from candidates of Black, Asian, or Ethnic Minority heritage, and candidates who are Disabled (including people who may not define themselves as disabled, but nevertheless encounter challenges)

PLEASE NOTE: Applications are scored against the criteria set out in the job description and person specifications attached to this advert. Applications are not assessed against the job advert so please ensure your applications are crafted against the Job Description and Person Specification contained within it.