Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Apply Post Details

Full time ( x 6 Positions available ) Fixed term contract for 4 years ( with the possibility of a 6 month extension )

Grade 7: £37,099 - £44,263 p.a or Grade 8: £45,585 - £54,395 p.a

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 06 October 2024. Interviews are expected to take place the week commencing Monday 28 October 2024.

Start date will be Monday 03 March 2025 or by mutual agreement.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This is a postdoctoral role and may be eligible for sponsorship depending on candidate circumstances under SOC code 2119.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

Context: The Centre for the Sciences of Place and Memory

The Leverhulme International Professorship grant supports the establishment of a new Centre for the Sciences of Place and Memory at the University of Stirling. The Centre's researchers will address pressing questions about how people locate and orient themselves in space and time. Anchored in philosophy and housed in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Centre draws heavily on cognitive sciences, social sciences, and the arts to break new ground in the study of spatial thinking, disorientation, and remembering the past. It connects advances in the cognitive neurosciences of space and memory with contemporary practical concerns about memory, emotion, and place. Centre researchers deploy diverse methods, integrating conceptual, experimental, and ethnographic approaches to implement intense interdisciplinary collaboration. The mission is to advance knowledge of dynamic relations between place and memory at multiple timescales and levels and how people navigate together in space and time.

The Post

We seek to appoint six outstanding researchers to help form the Centre's interdisciplinary team. We expect to appoint a combination of recent PhD graduates and more experienced postdoctoral researchers. Appointment at Grade 8 will reflect an outstanding record of high quality research in relevant fields, and potential capacity to lead one of the Centre's six workstreams (listed below – see further information for details). Applicants should indicate whether they wish to be considered at Grade 7, Grade 8, or both.

The areas of specialization are open but must relate directly to the Centre's focus on place and memory. The successful applicants will have a PhD and an established track record in one or more fields relevant to the study of place and memory. We expect to appoint a diverse group of researchers with a range of distinctive backgrounds to form a strongly collaborative interdisciplinary team. Possible areas of research background include (but are not limited to) philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, geography, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, urban policy and design, architecture, environmental studies, indigenous studies, public health, migration studies, international development, history, heritage, literature, museum studies, memory studies, politics, design, art history and theory, practice-based creative research, human-computer interaction, gaming and new media, and science studies. Applicants should indicate in their cover letter how their research experience and skill set relates to studies of place and memory, and (where possible) to specific workstreams as listed below.

The successful applicants will report to the Centre Director. Individually and collaboratively they will conduct research and develop projects and grant applications to complement the Centre's work and implement its mission, and will mentor and supervise as appropriate PhD students. Most of the appointees will work primarily on one of the Centre's six workstreams (described below), while also contributing to other workstreams and all Centre research activities. Applications from researchers with active interests in indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural practices of remembering and place-making are particularly welcome. We are keen to support applications from those who are underrepresented in traditional academic disciplines and structures. We will provide mentoring and opportunities and pathways for career development within these research-intensive roles.

The Centre's research on place and memory is driven by attention to specific topics or domains, not restricted to any one tradition or discipline. Focus is given and maintained through six workstreams, designed as vertical slices through disparate disciplines, integrating philosophy, cognitive science, social sciences, and the arts.

Workstream #1. Memory, truth, and the past Workstream #2. Place memory and place knowledge Workstream #3. Collaborative wayfinding Workstream #4. Technologies of navigation and memory Workstream #5. Disorientation and difficult places Workstream #6. Cognitive ecologies of the city

Please refer to the additional information attached for more details on these workstreams. Informal enquires may be made to Professor John Sutton at [email protected]

Description of Duties

Grade 7/8:

Engage in individual and collaborative research which aligns to the strategic direction of the Centre and the University, develop a programme of research related to the Centre's workstreams, and disseminate results through regular publication in high impact journals, books and conference proceedings

Identify appropriate sources of funding and prepare research proposals for funding bodies

Supervise research students and staff as required, providing direction, support and guidance

Ensure appropriate planning, consultation, and ethical clearance of workstream research activities

Establish and maintain effective data management as appropriate for research methods in the workstream

Participate in international engagement activities as appropriate

Participate in, and develop, networks and collaborations both internally and externally to the Centre

Participate in the administrative processes of the Centre/ Faculty/ University as appropriate

Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post

Grade 8:

Establish a distinctive programme of research related to the Centre's workstreams

Lead one workstream, coordinating and maintaining operational management of workstream research activities

Play a leading role in the Centre's development of novel research methods, interdisciplinary networks, and appropriate external links with community organizations or policy debates

Essential Criteria

Grade 7/8:

PhD in relevant discipline

Evidence of a publication record in fields relevant to the Centre's research activities

Credible plans for the active pursuit of external research funding

Capacity to implement appropriate research methods, including a relevant combination of conceptual, archival, ethnographic, qualitative, or experimental methods, with evidence of a pluralist approach to interdisciplinary research

Grade 8:

Established track record of high-quality published research

A record of involvement in applications for external funding for research and/or knowledge transfer

Demonstrated understanding of appropriate research methods, including a relevant combination of conceptual, archival, ethnographic, qualitative, or experimental methods, with evidence of a pluralist approach to interdisciplinary research

Experience in supervising dissertation projects across the range of undergraduate/ postgraduate and of supervising doctoral students

Evidence of successful mentoring and/ or collaborative contributions to research teams

Desirable Criteria

Grade 7/8:

Experience and skills in the public communication of research, and/ or in developing research with potential for broader social, cultural, political, and/ or economic impact

Experience and skills in working with external stakeholders, such as engagement with relevant community groups or policy debates in fields relevant to place and memory

Active interests in indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural practices of remembering and place-making

Experience in collaborative research practice involving interdisciplinary methods and/ or diverse research teams

Experience in managing research ethics and appropriate data management practices

Behaviours and Competencies

The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

Managing self and personal skills Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly.

Delivering excellent service Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.

Finding solutions Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.

Embracing change Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles.

Using resources effectively Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.

Engaging with the wider context Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values.

Developing self and others Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.

Working together Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.

Achieving Results Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University – also home to 1,700 staff – is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University's sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

The University is a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership. www. stir.ac.uk @stiruni

Available documents

01. Additional Post InformationFAC01965.docx

Job number

FAC01965

Contract Type

Fixed Term Contract

Posting End Date

06-Oct-2024

Location:

Stirling Campus

Grade

Grade7 £37,099-£44,263 p.a.

Faculty/Service

Faculty of Arts and Humanities Post Details

Full time ( x 6 Positions available ) Fixed term contract for 4 years ( with the possibility of a 6 month extension )

Grade 7: £37,099 - £44,263 p.a or Grade 8: £45,585 - £54,395 p.a

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 06 October 2024. Interviews are expected to take place the week commencing Monday 28 October 2024.

Start date will be Monday 03 March 2025 or by mutual agreement.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This is a postdoctoral role and may be eligible for sponsorship depending on candidate circumstances under SOC code 2119.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

Context: The Centre for the Sciences of Place and Memory

The Leverhulme International Professorship grant supports the establishment of a new Centre for the Sciences of Place and Memory at the University of Stirling. The Centre's researchers will address pressing questions about how people locate and orient themselves in space and time. Anchored in philosophy and housed in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Centre draws heavily on cognitive sciences, social sciences, and the arts to break new ground in the study of spatial thinking, disorientation, and remembering the past. It connects advances in the cognitive neurosciences of space and memory with contemporary practical concerns about memory, emotion, and place. Centre researchers deploy diverse methods, integrating conceptual, experimental, and ethnographic approaches to implement intense interdisciplinary collaboration. The mission is to advance knowledge of dynamic relations between place and memory at multiple timescales and levels and how people navigate together in space and time.

The Post

We seek to appoint six outstanding researchers to help form the Centre's interdisciplinary team. We expect to appoint a combination of recent PhD graduates and more experienced postdoctoral researchers. Appointment at Grade 8 will reflect an outstanding record of high quality research in relevant fields, and potential capacity to lead one of the Centre's six workstreams (listed below – see further information for details). Applicants should indicate whether they wish to be considered at Grade 7, Grade 8, or both.

The areas of specialization are open but must relate directly to the Centre's focus on place and memory. The successful applicants will have a PhD and an established track record in one or more fields relevant to the study of place and memory. We expect to appoint a diverse group of researchers with a range of distinctive backgrounds to form a strongly collaborative interdisciplinary team. Possible areas of research background include (but are not limited to) philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, geography, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, urban policy and design, architecture, environmental studies, indigenous studies, public health, migration studies, international development, history, heritage, literature, museum studies, memory studies, politics, design, art history and theory, practice-based creative research, human-computer interaction, gaming and new media, and science studies. Applicants should indicate in their cover letter how their research experience and skill set relates to studies of place and memory, and (where possible) to specific workstreams as listed below.

The successful applicants will report to the Centre Director. Individually and collaboratively they will conduct research and develop projects and grant applications to complement the Centre's work and implement its mission, and will mentor and supervise as appropriate PhD students. Most of the appointees will work primarily on one of the Centre's six workstreams (described below), while also contributing to other workstreams and all Centre research activities. Applications from researchers with active interests in indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural practices of remembering and place-making are particularly welcome. We are keen to support applications from those who are underrepresented in traditional academic disciplines and structures. We will provide mentoring and opportunities and pathways for career development within these research-intensive roles.

The Centre's research on place and memory is driven by attention to specific topics or domains, not restricted to any one tradition or discipline. Focus is given and maintained through six workstreams, designed as vertical slices through disparate disciplines, integrating philosophy, cognitive science, social sciences, and the arts.

Workstream #1. Memory, truth, and the past Workstream #2. Place memory and place knowledge Workstream #3. Collaborative wayfinding Workstream #4. Technologies of navigation and memory Workstream #5. Disorientation and difficult places Workstream #6. Cognitive ecologies of the city

Please refer to the additional information attached for more details on these workstreams. Informal enquires may be made to Professor John Sutton at [email protected]

Description of Duties

Grade 7/8:

Engage in individual and collaborative research which aligns to the strategic direction of the Centre and the University, develop a programme of research related to the Centre's workstreams, and disseminate results through regular publication in high impact journals, books and conference proceedings

Identify appropriate sources of funding and prepare research proposals for funding bodies

Supervise research students and staff as required, providing direction, support and guidance

Ensure appropriate planning, consultation, and ethical clearance of workstream research activities

Establish and maintain effective data management as appropriate for research methods in the workstream

Participate in international engagement activities as appropriate

Participate in, and develop, networks and collaborations both internally and externally to the Centre

Participate in the administrative processes of the Centre/ Faculty/ University as appropriate

Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post

Grade 8:

Establish a distinctive programme of research related to the Centre's workstreams

Lead one workstream, coordinating and maintaining operational management of workstream research activities

Play a leading role in the Centre's development of novel research methods, interdisciplinary networks, and appropriate external links with community organizations or policy debates

Essential Criteria

Grade 7/8:

PhD in relevant discipline

Evidence of a publication record in fields relevant to the Centre's research activities

Credible plans for the active pursuit of external research funding

Capacity to implement appropriate research methods, including a relevant combination of conceptual, archival, ethnographic, qualitative, or experimental methods, with evidence of a pluralist approach to interdisciplinary research

Grade 8:

Established track record of high-quality published research

A record of involvement in applications for external funding for research and/or knowledge transfer

Demonstrated understanding of appropriate research methods, including a relevant combination of conceptual, archival, ethnographic, qualitative, or experimental methods, with evidence of a pluralist approach to interdisciplinary research

Experience in supervising dissertation projects across the range of undergraduate/ postgraduate and of supervising doctoral students

Evidence of successful mentoring and/ or collaborative contributions to research teams

Desirable Criteria

Grade 7/8:

Experience and skills in the public communication of research, and/ or in developing research with potential for broader social, cultural, political, and/ or economic impact

Experience and skills in working with external stakeholders, such as engagement with relevant community groups or policy debates in fields relevant to place and memory

Active interests in indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural practices of remembering and place-making

Experience in collaborative research practice involving interdisciplinary methods and/ or diverse research teams

Experience in managing research ethics and appropriate data management practices

Behaviours and Competencies

The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

Managing self and personal skills Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly.

Delivering excellent service Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.

Finding solutions Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.

Embracing change Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles.

Using resources effectively Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.

Engaging with the wider context Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values.

Developing self and others Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.

Working together Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.

Achieving Results Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University – also home to 1,700 staff – is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University's sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

The University is a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership. www. stir.ac.uk @stiruni

Available documents

01. Additional Post InformationFAC01965.docx