Student Casual - Research Associate - Social Sciences - Grade 6 - 906635

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Birmingham seeks a Research Associate to analyze ethnicity data and support racially minoritised staff within research. This role involves data collection, analysis, and presenting findings to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in relevant subject area.
• Practical experience of applying relevant skills.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze research data using various methods.
• Present research outputs to the project team.
• Support staff and students assisting with research.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Education

Degree in relevant subject area

Job description

Job Description

Position Details

School or Department: College of Social Sciences and College of Arts and Law

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Grade/Band: Grade 6

Hourly rate: £16.69 per hour plus holiday entitlement

Casual contract from: 16/06/2025 - 14/09/2025

Positions available: 1

Advert closing date: Friday 30th May 2025

If we receive a high volume of applications then we may close this advert early. We recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Background

The University is committed to advancing a racially inclusive research culture. CAL and CoSS have a thriving Research Community of Practice (CoP) network for PS staff. The demographic of this group has, to date, not been analysed, nor the experiences of racially minoritised staff been understood. This project seeks to gain understanding, learn from best practice across the sector/other industries, and purposefully shape proposals to better support the career development and experience of racially minoritised staff within research.

Role Summary

The Research Associate will work under the direction of the Project Sponsors. The aims are:

1. Analysing ethnicity data from Core Systems to gain an accurate picture of the diversity within the existing professional services staff working in research.
2. Giving racially minoritised staff in this network a chance to feedback on their experiences through focus groups
3. Desktop research on best practice from other institutions and sectors.

The dual College CoP provides a platform to test engagement led ideas with a view to developing practices that could be rolled out UoB-wide. The project team includes the respective Directors of EDI from each College, who will be able to provide academic rigour, ensure the project aligns with College and University EDI strategies, and promote the outcomes amongst the EDI communities for further adoption/enhancement.

Main duties

• Collect research data; this will be through a variety of research methods such as analysis of protected characteristic data on Core Systems, holding focus groups/interviews with members of the CAL/CoSS Community of Practice, and desktop research on best practice from other institutions/sectors
• Analyse research data as directed
• Present research outputs to project team, which could include reports or poster presentation
• Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods
• Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

• Degree or equivalent in relevant subject area e.g., ability to use arts-based methodology or similar methodological approaches
• Practical experience of applying the relevant skills and techniques
• Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively
• Ability to access and organise resources successfully
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

For any informal queries, please contact Iola Jones ([e-mail])

View our staff values and behaviours here

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g. PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an International student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate Authorised Absence.

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check.These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.