Post Doctoral Research Associate

Newcastle University; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A prestigious research institution in the UK seeks a part-time Research Associate for a 30-month project on Great Wall archaeology, collaborating with Chinese universities. The role requires strong communication skills, a PhD in archaeology, and experience in interdisciplinary research. Applicants will assist in literature reviews, manage research assessments, and engage in workshops. Flexibility in working patterns may be required for project participation in China.

Qualifications

• PhD must be in archaeology or heritage management or relevant career experience.
• Understanding of interdisciplinary data collation methods.
• Research experience in collaborative projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting literature reviews on Great Wall archaeology.
• Support Chinese colleagues in managing and structuring the research.
• Participate in project meetings with international teams.

Skills

Developing archaeological research plans

Managing complex data sets

Experience with Chinese academia

Interpersonal communication

Cultural understanding of Chinese norms

Education

PhD in archaeology or heritage management

Job description

Educational sciences » Research methodology

Organisation/Company Newcastle University Research Field Educational sciences » Research methodology Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 14 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Part-time Hours Per Week 7.4 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Role

The successful applicant will act as Research Associate for the Developing a New Framework for Great Wall Archaeological Research project, led by Newcastle University in partnership with Northwest University, Xi'an, China. The purpose of this post is to assist and support the project teams at both Newcastle and Northwest universities in the processes of exploring the development of a potential research framework and strategy to inform and stimulate future archaeological research on the Great Wall. These processes will require the post-holder to also work with a wider group of scholars from other research institutions in both the UK and China.

The project, which is funded through the AHRC's Catalyst programme, has evolved from, and is part of, a wider collaborative initiative between Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and the Great Wall of China World Heritage Site, entitled 'Wall to Wall'. The Wall to Wall initiative has been ongoing since 2017 and has brought together academics and heritage professionals responsible for all aspects of the management of the two World Heritage Sites. The collaborative relationship between Newcastle and Northwest universities has been developing over a similar period, hence while this post has a specific focus, its scope will encompass contributing to those wider collaborative initiatives.

You must have a PhD in archaeology or heritage management or relevant career experience, and an understanding of the methods of interdisciplinary data collation and interrogation. Ideally, you have research or professional experience of collaborative and/or interdisciplinary projects. You must have the ability to work as part of a team and have good communication skills.

The project will consist of three phases of work: undertaking a Research Assessment of current archaeological knowledge and understanding of the Great Wall; developing a Research Agenda, identifying the most significant gaps in knowledge and opportunities for future research; and the preparation of a Research Strategy identifying how that Agenda might be most effectively implemented.

You would be expected to work with the Project Lead in coordinating engagement with the project team at Northwest University and other academic participants throughout each of these phases of work, of which the Research Assessment is anticipated to be the most substantive undertaking. It is therefore also anticipated that the primary task of the post-holder will be to assist and advise our Chinese colleagues in the management, collation and ordering of the Assessment. The shape and structure of each phase will ultimately be determined by the Great Wall scholars themselves; the role of Newcastle University and other UK colleagues is to guide and advise our Chinese colleagues and to offer critical appraisal of the Assessment, the Agenda and the Strategy as they each emerge.

The project will be delivered through a series of six Workshops (one in Newcastle and five in Xi'an) involving the project teams from Newcastle and Northwest universities together with archaeologists from other UK and Chinese research institutions, together with ongoing online communications and exchanges between the project teams.

The post will be offered on a 0.2 FTE (part-time) basis for 30 months, and will be hosted within Newcastle University's School of History, Classics and Archaeology more information about the School can be found here: School of History, Classics and Archaeology | School of History, Classics and Archaeology | Newcastle University. The candidate will start work in December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. While it is expected that the post will require a standard pattern of work equivalent to one day per week, if the successful applicant wishes to participate in the workshops in China that pattern could be flexed to allow that.

Key Accountabilities

• Assisting Chinese colleagues in undertaking a literature review of published research on the archaeology of the Great Wall
• Supporting and advising Chinese colleagues in the management, collation and structuring of the Research Assessment
• Providing critical appraisal of the emerging Research Agenda and the Research Strategy
• Participation in regular online project meetings between the two project teams
• Assisting in preparations for each of the Workshop sessions
• Supporting the logistical and organisational requirements of the Workshop in Newcastle
• Supporting the Project Lead and other team members as may be required including in periodic project reporting to AHRC

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of developing and implementing archaeological research plans
• Demonstrable experience of sourcing data and of managing large and complex data sets
• Experience of working with and within Chinese academia
• Strong appreciation of Chinese cultural norms and traditions
• Experience of working within complex partnerships

Attributes and Behaviour

• Ability to work with colleagues across organisations and an ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines
• Ability to work on own under direction and as a member of wider teams
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to work flexibly and to respond to evolving project requirements
• Ability to prioritise tasks within the constraints of available time and resources
• Tact and diplomacy

Qualifications

• A PhD in hand in archaeology or heritage management/or commensurate experience

St Thomas' Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU