Research Fellow - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £30,942 to £39,152 with potential progression once in post to £42,792

Grade 7

Full Time/FTC until 31st December 2021

Closing date: 3rd January 2021

People are at the heart of what we are and do. We want to attract outstanding, inspirational, and talented people, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. Working at the University of Birmingham gives you access to the best financial and physical resources, a beautiful campus and an intellectually stimulating and diverse community. Our sector leading development programmes have made this a place where staff can thrive and recognition by Athena Swan, Stonewall, and Two Ticks demonstrates our commitment to supporting talented people from all backgrounds.

The Institute for Global Innovation (IGI) -Water challenges in a changing world, aims to foster ground-breaking research to improve the preparedness and resilience of socio-economic and environmental systems to globally increasing water challenges (such as drought, flood, water pollution), water-related public and environmental health; and the governance of water to increase security and reduce conflict.

The post holder will work alongside the Water theme leader to support administrative and research duties.

The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate a degree of flexibility and willingness to undertake new tasks. The post holder will have the opportunity to expand their skills by becoming involved in a range of activities including general administration, ordering and supporting the preparation of finance claims, project management, diary management, external engagement and supporting research funding applications for the Water theme. The post would therefore suit an enthusiastic individual with a desire to develop and expand their skills. The research fellow will report directly to the Water theme leader.

Main Duties

• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids (which include managing IGI Water projects every year, reviewing grant application, managing budget and helping with staff recruitment)
• Operate within area of specialism
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Contribute to generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar
• Liaise with international networks on behalf of the Water Theme of the Institute of Global Innovation (e.g UNITWIN UNESCO network)
• Support the development of an interdisciplinary research agenda of the Water Theme of the Institute of Global Innovation by developing own research foci in particular in the field of ecohydrology and ecophydraulics
• Facilitate international network activities of the Water Theme of the Institute of Global Innovation
• Lead and support interdisciplinary research grant applications and brokering on behalf of the Water Theme of the Institute of Global Innovation in international network consortia and sandpits
• Organize interdisciplinary and international research and dissemination events on behalf of the. Water Theme of the Institute of Global Innovation
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines

Person Specification

• PhD degree
• Administrative and office management skills - experience with or ability to learn to work with finance and project/data management tools such as New Core
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal. The post holder will have the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively with a variety of people both inside and outside the University, and at varying levels of seniority.
• Good numeracy, at least to GCSE Maths or equivalent.
• Ability to quickly understand a problem, to think laterally and to extrapolate best practice from past experience.
• Attention to detail in written and verbal communication and pride in presentation.
• Good IT and typing skills, especially use of Microsoft Word, Excel, email and internet usage. The post holder should also be willing to quickly learn new software.
• Good team working skills.
• Flexibility to take on a wide variety of tasks with a 'can do' attitude.
• Excellent multi-tasking skills in managing and coordinating multiple projects for a range of customers.
• The ability to work with colleagues at all levels within the institution (including those at a senior level) whilst demonstrating appropriate tact and communication skills.
• A commitment to providing a proactive, customer orientated service.
• The drive, commitment and enthusiasm to assist in the establishment and development of a high profile research Institute with ambitions for impact at the global level.

Desirable

• Knowledge of processes within the University of Birmingham.
• Interdisciplinary research experience.
• Experience working in low and middle income countries.

For further information please contact Stefan Krause, s.krause@bham.ac.uk or telephone (+44) 0121 4145535

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