Research Assistant/ Associate

Salary: £36,636 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 6 September 2026

The Role 

Newcastle University’s Politics department invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join an ambitious project that will evaluate the quality, integration, and impact of a range of public engagement processes that are part of the Casey Commission (Independent Commission into Adult Social Care) which seeks to create a National Conversation on social care in the UK. Ipsos Mori have been contracted by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) by to provide the public engagement element of this commission. This will include a digital platform, community engagement, marginalised communities, a citizens’ assembly, and those employed in social care. The evaluation of these engagement processes is being led by Professor Stephen Elstub at Newcastle University.

We are looking for a researcher with an interest in public engagement and democratic innovation, with experience of conducting mixed methods research generally and surveys, interviews, focus groups, document analysis, and non-participant observation. You will concurrently collect data through these methods. You will deliver high-quality analyses of the data, and share your findings, in collaboration with the project team, presentations to a range of audiences, an evaluation report, and peer reviewed academic journals. You will work with a high degree of independence, as appropriate seeking input from the project team.

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

What Happens Next

In order to apply please provide evidence of how you meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in ‘The Person’ by uploading a letter of application along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

If you would like to have an informal conversation about this role, please contact Professor Stephen Elstub (stephen.elstub@ncl.ac.uk)

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level. 

Newcastle University is committed to the responsible use of research metrics as part of our research culture and research strategy. We advocate for the transparent, appropriate, and inclusive use of metrics, guided by expert judgment, to support high-quality, impactful research that is open, collaborative and sustainable. Click here for our full policy statement on the Responsible Use of Research Metrics. Click here for a self-study e-learning module on the Responsible Use of Research Metrics. 

Find out more about the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences here

Find out more about the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology here   

Find out more about the Department of Politics

Contact for the post is stephen.elstub@ncl.ac.uk

Duration of post is 15 months (to start approx. 01/09/2026 and until project ends on 30/11/2027)  

Key Accountabilities 

Research Assistant 

• To contribute to quantitative and qualitative data collection
• To contribute to the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
• To contribute to the development and writing of reports
• To contribute to the development and writing of academic papers
• To liaise with external partners involved in the projects, including contributing to event organisation
• To provide support for the strategic development of the projects
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate

Research Associate 

• To contribute to quantitative and qualitative data collection
• To contribute to the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
• To contribute to the development and writing of reports
• To contribute to the development and writing of academic papers
• To liaise with external partners involved in the projects, including contributing to event organisation
• To provide support for the strategic development of the projects
• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience  

Research Assistant 

• Knowledge of Democratic innovation or public engagement research
• Ability to conduct mixed methods research
• Experience of survey research and analysis
• Ability to conduct qualitative research
• Knowledge of UK Politics
• Knowledge of Social Care policy in the UK (Desirable)
• Experience of working with non-academic organisations and event organisation
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems

In addition for Research Associate

• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem-solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to communicate effectively to a range of audiences
• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

Research Assistant 

• Close to submitting PhD in Politics Science or related discipline

In addition for Research Associate 

• PhD in Politics Science or related discipline

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29636