Post-Doctoral Research Assistant

York St. John University; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Relocation expenses (eligible roles)

Job summary

York St John University in York is seeking a post‑doctoral research assistant to contribute to research activity within the School of the Arts. You will support academics, produce research reports, and help develop outputs across multiple projects with flexible hours, up to 7.4 hours per week and a maximum of 300 hours for the role.

You will work under the School Research and Knowledge Transfer Lead, contributing to REF submissions and funding bid development, while ensuring high-quality

Qualifications

• PhD in a subject related to arts and experience with practice-based/artistic research methodologies.
• Knowledge and experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods relevant to projects.
• Ability to contribute to collaborative research projects and work both independently and under supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality research support and assist academics with research outputs.
• Support across multiple projects to enable high-quality outputs and grant applications.
• Assist with REF submission and development of research reports and publications.
• Coordinate with project leads to develop external funding bids and outputs.

Skills

Excellent time management

High level of English proficiency

Independent and collaborative research

Education

PhD in arts or cognate field

Job description

Casual (hours will be offered on an ad-hoc basis in accordance with the University's resource requirements)

Salary: £17.98 to £20.74 per hour (exclusive of holiday pay). Holiday pay is accrued at 12.07% in addition to the hourly rate.

Location: York

Introduction to YSJ University

York St John University is an ambitious, modern university at the heart of historic York and there has never been a more exciting time to join us, as we have launched our new Design Centre and launch new programmes.

As one of the fastest growing universities in the U.K over recent years, we have a strategy for the next decade, emphasising our commitment to widening opportunity through the power of education and contributing our talents to creating a fairer world, and a more prosperous region. We are putting impactful research at the heart of this strategy, recognising our academic expertise as our greatest asset.

The School

The School of the Arts is home to a vibrant culture of creative practice-based research across a wide range of artistic practice and inquiry. We have a thriving research community formed from a range of practitioners, action researchers and traditional researchers across areas including Media and Music Production, Music Composition, Musical Theatre, Music and Performance, Acting, Fine Art, Animation, Design and VR/AR. There are opportunities for colleagues to share research and get involved with wider research projects, and colleagues are encouraged to develop research-informed teaching. We have a combination of early career researchers as well as active senior researchers, and we engage with a range of academic interests that impact our excellent teaching provision and expanding research portfolio. With around 70 staff in the School in total, we are a friendly, creative and collegiate community.

The School’s dynamic research culture covers a diverse set of research areas, but with a collective focus on social justice and community engagement. Its researchers work closely with the University’s Institute for Social Justice and Institute for Health and Care Improvement. The School is also home to groundbreaking projects and groups, including the International Centre for Community Music and Converge, a transformational, award‑winning partnership between York St John University and mental health service providers. In REF 2021, over 65% of its outputs were rated internationally excellent, and 50% of its impact case studies were world‑leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. It is aiming to improve on these results in the next REF.

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a post‑doctoral research assistant to work within the School of the Arts. The RA will contribute to research activity within the School by actively engaging in research and contributing to the production of research reports and publications, reporting to the School Research and Knowledge Transfer Lead. They will provide high quality research support and assistance to academics in the School of the Arts.

Working across different projects, the research assistant will provide a range of support to projects lead by research staff in the School to enable the development of high-quality research projects, external funding bids and outputs. They will enable high‑excellent research and support staff productivity to assist nascent research projects to become outputs, impact and quality grant applications. The research assistant will help to support and contribute to the School’s REF submission.

The role will provide a maximum of 300 hours support to research projects in the School of the Arts, enabling academics to develop high‑quality research outputs, impact and grant application. The role will have a flexible work pattern, with a notional 7.4 hour working week.

Required Skills And Experience

• A PhD in a subject related to arts (cognate with those of the school) and experience with practice‑based/artistic research methodologies
• Knowledge and experience of using a variety of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods of relevance to research projects, and the ability to interpret and analyse results
• The ability to contribute to collaborative research projects, working both independently and under the direction of a project leader
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• High level of proficiency in English

Additional Information

Main contact for further role details: Professor Helen Julia Minors Head of the School of the Arts [e-mail]

Unfortunately this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship however we welcome your application if you are able to evidence right to work in the UK via an alternative route.

It is anticipated that the selection process will include an interview. Further details will be provided if you are shortlisted for interview.

We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive policies and facilities and welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of our commitment to providing an inclusive working environment, consideration is given to all requests for job share or flexible working arrangements.

Benefits Package

• Excellent annual leave entitlement, including five discretionary university closure days over the Christmas period
• Disability leave (applies to staff who have disclosed a disability and is also available to staff with disabled dependants)
• Pension scheme
• Health Cash Plan after six months service
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists
• On‑campus courses, one‑to‑one tutorials, and online resources to help you develop your digital skills and work with new software
• Relocation expenses package for certain roles
• Reimbursement of Skilled Worker Visa application fees and Visa loan scheme for additional costs (if applicable to the role)

Further Information About Life At YSJ

Our attached 'further information' document below provides further information about our culture, achievements and testimonials from our employees.

Read more about our culture, inclusive community, working arrangements and benefits for York St John employees

Read the latest news, views and stories from our staff and students.

Read more about our commitment to managing and reducing our environmental impact and to promoting sustainable development wherever we can.

Closing Date

Friday 13 November 2026 at midnight

Provisional Interview Date

Friday 27 November 2026

Further Details

Job Description

Further Information

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