Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography

Durham University; North East; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed educational institution in North East England is looking for a Research and Innovation Associate to focus on the role of local heritage in environmental projects. The position involves developing research ideas, collaborating with a multi-institution team, and engaging with local communities, offering a fixed-term contract lasting 27 months, concluding on 31 March 2028.

Qualifications

• Experience in research practices and methodologies.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement research concepts and protocols.
• Co-develop place-based research questions focused on community.
• Collaborate with multi-institution teams and engage with local communities.

Job description

Overview

The Role: A Research and Innovation Associate with a focus on the role of local heritage in the Green Corridors of the North East (GCNE). The project aims to develop co-created arts- and humanities-led research practices to contribute to the regenerative potential of green corridors in the UK and beyond, by developing, spreading and scaling a co-produced model of placemaking.

The project spans more than 35 miles of three green corridors in the North East: the Tyne Derwent Way in Gateshead, Durham City Green Corridor, and the Tees to Topping Green Corridor linking Middlesbrough. These corridors are part of an ambitious programme led by the National Trust to establish 20 green corridors across England, Northern Ireland and Wales by 2030, addressing unequal access to nature, heritage and people and connecting pockets of nature to cultural heritage.

Project objectives

The project aims to: (i) convene exceptional teams across research, professional and community expertise to shape and deliver change; (ii) co-develop place-based, cross-cutting research questions and practices focused on environment, community and storytelling; (iii) co-produce research on four themes (1) heritage and history (the focus of this post); (2) culture and creativity (a matching post at Teesside University); (3) nature and natural heritage (a matching post at Newcastle University); (4) active evaluation for learning (with staff support from Durham and Northumbria Universities), with cross-cutting super-themes of well-being and stewardship.

Role details

This post is fixed term with funding for 27 months and will end on 31 March 2028.

The post-holder is employed to work on a research project led by another colleague. While this means the post-holder will not carry out independent research in their own right, they are expected to contribute to the advancement of the project through the development of their own research ideas and the adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will ideally be in post by 1 November 2025.

Responsibilities (illustrative)

• Contribute to the advancement of the GCNE project by developing and implementing research concepts and protocols.
• Co-develop research questions and practices that are place-based, cross-cutting and focused on environment, community and storytelling.
• Co-produce research on the four themes listed above, with cross-cutting support from partner universities, and participate in learning and evaluation activities.
• Collaborate as part of a multi-institution team to deliver the project’s aims, including engagement with heritage and local communities.

Notes

The four themes and cross-cutting super-themes are as described in the project documentation. The post is part of a larger team effort and is not an independent research position.