Research Fellow role profile (grade 8)

Communication

  • Regularly communicates complex concepts and ideas.
  • Communicates regularly with colleagues in peer communities within and outside the University on research topics.
  • Communicates with research team on current and future research activity requirements.
  • Communicates with academic and administrative colleagues within the University and externally on matters related to the research processes.
  • Contributes as part of the research team to the design and implementation of research methodologies.
  • Submits proposals for research grants.
  • Writes research papers, journal articles and materials for publication.
  • Is expected to lead on/or have significant input to the design and implementation of research activity.
  • Gives presentations, lectures, seminars (internal or external) based on personal scholarship and research; and/or exhibits work at appropriate events.

Teamwork, motivation and managing people

  • Is team leader for research project teams.
  • Supervises the work of small groups for example research assistants and PhD students.
  • Develops productive and effective working relationships with academic, administrative and research colleagues stakeholders and partners.
  • Coaches and mentors post graduate/PHD students.

Liaison and networking

  • Liaises as appropriate with external partners, stakeholders and colleagues to facilitate research and funding opportunities.
  • Collaborates formally on research with other Universities and/or external bodies.
  • Presents papers and posters at academic conferences as primary researcher.

Planning and organising resources

  • Plans research projects including management of financial and other resources.
  • Required to work as team leader on research projects.
  • Responsible for obtaining external funding for research projects and consultancy.

Teaching and learning support

  • Required to undertake one-off specialist lectures, some formal teaching as part of the curriculum, and/or demonstrations as appropriate.
  • Undertakes PhD and Masters supervision.

Research and analysis

  • Takes the lead in writing up and disseminating research findings via networks and appropriate publications.
  • Leads a number of research and /or consultancy projects at any one time.
  • Identifies sources of research funding and contributes to the process of securing grants and/or other forms of research funding.
  • Disseminates research findings through publications (books, monographs, articles) and/or other appropriate methods.
  • Produces RAE returnable research or undertakes knowledge transfer consultancy activities.

Pastoral care

  • Shows general sensitivity when dealing with confidential and data protection issues.
  • Likely to have mentoring/coaching responsibility for PhD students.
  • Has pastoral and welfare responsibility for those supervised and working on research projects.

Initiative, problem-solving and decision making

  • Responsible for the operational decisions relating to own research projects.
  • Uses specialist knowledge of research area to devise solutions to unpredictable and unexpected research outcomes.
  • Constructs appropriate research strategies for tackling different types of research questions or problems involving a synthesis of prior subject knowledge and experience of different research methods which is then brought to bear on solving novel problems.

Sensory, physical and emotional demands

  • Uses a range of equipment as appropriate to research activity i.e. anything from laboratory equipment to pcs, to medical equipment.

Work environment

  • Based in office, teaching rooms, laboratory or in the field.
  • Could be required to wear specialist clothing.
  • Could be required to undertake risk assessment.

Knowledge and experience

  • Significant and relevant post doctoral experience.
  • Experience of undertaking independent research.
  • Experience of supervising the work of other research staff.

In addition to the above expectations

In addition to the above expectations, to be appointed on Grade 9 salary, it is essential that Research Fellows should be able to demonstrate all of the following as requirements of their role:

  • To have previously held 1 or 2 post Doctoral Research appointments.
  • Accountable for mentoring/coaching and formal supervision of junior research staff.
  • Management of major research projects and/or teams and significant responsibility for income generation.