Last Date: 03/01/2024.
Based in the Faculty of Health, the School of Psychology is one of the largest and best-resourced psychology departments in the UK. Covering all areas of psychology, the School shares its expertise and enthusiasm for psychology with over 800 students and offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, all accredited by the British Psychological Society.
Plymouth is a centre of excellence in psychological research. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework 100% of our research environment and research impact was rated as either world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*), along with 73% of our research outputs (publications).
About the role:
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a progressive and impactful research network (Network Plus) that aims to support a more sustainable and responsible fashion and textiles industry. Situated in Britain’s beautiful Ocean City, Plymouth, this post will work across disciplines, research institutes, and industry to help embed a range of key disciplines, including social and environmental sciences, to facilitate a paradigm shift in the UK’s fashion and textiles sector.
Your role will be to use social science to help answer questions that need to be answered in order to see a more sustainable fashion industry. For example, whose decisions and behaviours need to be understood, what are their current perceptions and motives for existing practices, what do they need in order to shift towards more sustainable practices?
This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis until October 2025 due to funding.
You will be based in the state-of-the-art School of Psychology as well as the award-winning interdisciplinary International Marine Litter Research Unit. Working with Dr Kayleigh Wyles (School of Psychology), Professor Richard Thompson (School of Biological and Marine Sciences) and other post-doctorates on the project, your post will undertake social science research and be the Evaluation Lead for the network. This will involve mapping the different stakeholders and activities proposed by the network, developing an evaluation strategy (i.e., social science methods to assess baseline and change in perceptions and behaviours), as well as supporting partners in implementing the strategy. In addition, the post will lead on data collection (i.e., collecting stakeholders’ views before, during and after events, analysing the data and writing up the results as journal articles and reports).
You will:
- Have a PhD in the social sciences, or have equivalent research experience and knowledge. Candidates from a natural sciences background are encouraged to apply if they can demonstrate experience of conducting research with people.
- Have knowledge of behaviour change principles as well as social science evaluation methods.
- Have experience of designing and implementing qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., interviews, questionnaires and/or observations tools) that capture perceptions and/or behaviours of a range of social groups, analysing and writing up results.
- Have professional / academic level English language skills, both verbal and written, including a proven record of quality research publications, at least, 2-3* with respect to the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Research Excellence Framework (REF). Publications in the domain of social and behavioural sciences are especially desirable.
Due to the nature of the project, we expect experience in or openness to working across disciplines, sectors, and cultures, with excellent interpersonal skills. You must also have very good organisational and time management skills with meticulous attention to detail. In addition, you must have successful team leadership skills with the ability to work well within a team.
How to apply:
Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.
For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Dr. Kayleigh Wyles by email [email protected]
Interviews are likely to take place on 22 January 2024 and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted or not.
We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits, including ongoing development opportunities.
Flexible working options including job share will be considered.
The Faculty of Health holds two Silver and two Bronze Athena Swan Awards, which recognises commitment to supporting gender equality within higher education.
Staff appointed within the Faculty of Health may be able to join the NHS pension scheme subject to eligibility criteria.
The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our three strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute, the Sustainable Earth Institute, and the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today’s global challenges.
The University of Plymouth is a diverse, welcoming community where everyone makes a difference and is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. To find out more about our inclusive community, initiatives such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter and our range of benefits / support mechanisms such as flexible working, staff networks and enhanced maternity, paternity & adoption leave please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages
We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups such as BAME/BIPOC and LGBT+
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