Research Assistant/Associate (History)

Euraxess; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Research Assistant/Associate to contribute to a groundbreaking project exploring social inequalities in access to therapeutic environments. This full-time role offers a unique opportunity to engage in archival research, oral histories, and interviews, focusing on the health benefits of blue spaces. With a supportive research environment, mentorship, and the chance to develop your own research goals, this position promises a fulfilling career path in academia. Join a vibrant team dedicated to impactful research and public engagement, while also receiving training and development opportunities to enhance your professional journey.

Benefits

Mentorship opportunities

Flexible working hours

Access to CPD activities

Training budget for personal development

Qualifications

• Experience in archival research and oral history methods.
• Ability to conduct interviews and analyze qualitative data.

Responsibilities

• Conduct archival and ethnographic research on blue spaces in Devon.
• Explore social inequalities related to access to therapeutic environments.

Skills

Archival Research

Oral History

Interview Techniques

Ethnographic Research

Education

PhD in History, Anthropology, or related field

Master's degree

Job description

Offer Description

The Role

We are seeking a Research Assistant/Associate (RA) with experience in archival research, oral history, and interview techniques to work on a project titled Accessing the Wellbeing Commons: Therapeutic resource-fication of natural and historic environments and social exclusion in the UK and Inner Asia. The project is led by PI Dr. Elizabeth Turk and funded by the Wellcome Trust.

The project analyzes how social inequalities arise from differential access to therapeutic environments, using a transnational comparative framework and mixed historical and anthropological methods. The RA will explore how people access and use blue spaces in Devon, UK, for health and wellbeing, through oral histories, interviews, archival, and ethnographic research, focusing on land ownership, governance, and access changes.

This position offers mentorship, experience in scholarly editing, team collaboration, project management, impact and public engagement, and research networking. The candidate will develop their own research goals and manage a training budget, leading to joint and individual publications.

This is a full-time, fixed-term (maximum 4 years) research position starting after 1 October 2025. The role requires willingness to travel for fieldwork and engagement activities. Flexible working is supported.

Applicants from minority and/or host communities are especially encouraged. If visa support is needed, the university will assist under the Endorsed Funder Route of the Global Talent Visa.

The project is based in the School of History, Classics & Archaeology, which offers a vibrant research environment, mentoring, training, and career development opportunities, including a bespoke personal development plan and access to CPD activities.

Location: St Thomas' Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU