Research Associate, Research Scientist

Overview

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This position is for a four month fixed term contract as part of the final work for the Negotiating Childhoods Around the Pacific Rim: A Multi-Generational Analysis research project funded by the Te Aparangi Marsden Fund of New Zealand. This has been an international, multidisciplinary team (Landscape, Planning and Geography) working in the Pacific Rim countries of New Zealand, Samoa, Indonesia, Vietnam and China, where in-country researchers worked with three generations of families to develop an understanding of changing childhoods and the influences on this across the generations.

A series of qualitative and quantitative methods were used, resulting in a significant data set which has informed a series of academic papers and reports. The team is now moving to the final output of the project which is a book entitled City Childhoods in Transition:
Urbanization and Wellbeing in the Asia Pacific, to be published by Routledge.

Your role will involve working with Professor Helen Woolley here in the School of Architecture and Landscape at the University of Sheffield where you will be based, and also possibly with Professor Claire Freeman at Wellington University in New Zealand. You will undertake and support preparation work and the development of chapters for the book, with a main focus on chapters about China, which will involve some literature review, analysis and writing activities.

• Undertake literature reviews relevant to the project scope
• Contribute to the development and writing of chapters
• Explore the data set for appropriate analysis and quotations for book chapters
• Produce graphics as may be required for the book chapters
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn t match perfectly with this role s criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• APhD in a related field such as Children’s Outdoor Environments, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Planning, Education, Sociology (or equivalent relevant experience) (assessed at: application/interview)
• Experience of undertaking literature reviews
• Have strong academic written communication skills (assessed at application/interview)
• Have proven experience in analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative social research findings (assessed at application/interview)
• Have proven expertise in graphic reproduction and application of relevant qualitative and quantitative methods (assessed by interview)
• Ability to take responsibility for personal time management and work proactively and independently to agreed targets (assessed by interview)
• Ability to work collaborative and flexibly (assessed by interview)

Desirable criteria

• Have an understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to social research with a focus on children’s outdoor environments (assessed at application/interview)
• Have some understanding of culture affecting children in Asia Pacific Rim countries

Grade: 7

Salary: £38,784

Work arrangement
:
Full-time, but part time of 0.6 and above would be considered from the same start date with latest end date of 28 August 2026.

Duration: Full time:
March 2026 to 17 June 2026, or part time with latest completion…