Advert
Research Associate, WISERD
The Wales Institute for Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD), based within Cardiff University School of Social Sciences, wishes to appoint a Research Associate to work within the WISERD Education Data Lab. We are looking for a quantitative researcher who aspires to be a national leader in education research. We would support your methodological and substantive development as you transition to academic independence.
The Education Data Lab primarily utilises linked administrative education data provisioned by the SAIL Databank to deliver innovative high-quality research-based evidence that informs and challenges our understanding of educational processes and outcomes in Wales. The post will work with Administrative Data Research Wales (ADR Wales), which brings together world-renowned data science experts, leading academics and specialist teams within Welsh Government to produce evidence that shapes future policy decisions in Wales.
Research Context: This post will focus on educational outcomes for young people, including the themes of educational attainment, school attendance and school exclusion. You will generate high quality research-based evidence to help inform and challenge our understanding of educational processes and outcomes to support the Wales education sector.
The post will be based at the WISERD Education Data Lab at Cardiff University’s brand new Social Science Research Park SPARK.
Salary: £36,333 - £43,155 per annum (Grade 6)
This post is 1 FTE and is available from 1st May 2023 and is fixed term until 31st March 2026. Applications for part time working will be welcomed.
The post will report to Dr Robert French.
For academic queries about the post please contact Dr Robert French frenchr3@cardiff.ac.uk
For administrative queries about the post please contact Mr Kevin Jones Jonesk63@cardiff.ac.uk
Date advert posted: Friday, 26 May 2023
Closing date: Friday, 23 June 2023
Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Postgraduate degree at PhD level using quantitative/statistical methods in a related subject area or equivalent experience.
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Established expertise in data management of large-scale secondary data, ideally in relation to education and/or young people.
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Established expertise in statistical methods for the analysis of large-scale secondary data.,
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An emerging portfolio of academic outputs in national journals and/or other research outputs, reports produced on behalf of commissioning organisations and/or other research outputs.
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Advanced skills in using statistical packages such as STATA or R.
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Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work.
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Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to support applications to funding bodies.
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Proven ability in writing and communication for academic and lay audiences.
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Previous experience in conducting and organising research projects as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
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Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working along with an ability to prioritise and meet deadlines with the framework of an agreed programme.
Desirable Criteria-
ONS approved researcher status
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Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks to support research, for example with data providers, third sector organisations, or other stakeholders.
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Knowledge of the Welsh Government’s educational priorities and the challenges of raising educational attainment.
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Ability to speak/understand Welsh or a willingness to learn.
NOTE
The Person Specification is split into 2 sections: essential and desirable. Please demonstrate clearly how you meet all of the essential criteria. Where possible you should give examples of how, when and where you have used your experience, knowledge, specific skills and abilities to match those required for this particular job role.
Please ensure that you communicate this fully by creating a supporting statement document, listing all of the criteria and commenting against each one as to how you meet them. This will need to be completed before you begin making your application on line as you will be required to upload it.
When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you put your name and the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for NAME XXXXBR.’
The desirable section contains a list of skills, qualifications and experience that it would be beneficial for the jobholder to have.
All short-listing decisions will be based initially on essential criteria, with desirable being used to further select or deselect candidates as appropriate.
We interview those candidates who are the closest match to the identified criteria.
Additional Information
The Wales Institute for Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD)
WISERD is a collaborative venture between the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea, and South Wales. Its aims are: to build upon and develop existing expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and methodologies; to develop and integrate a coherent set of research data relating to Wales; to build networks of researchers and research capacity across Wales in the economic and social sciences, as well as contributing to UK wide research capacity building; to explore the relationships between research data, research methods and the development and understanding of policy; to develop a sustainable increase in the quantitative research base across the social sciences in Wales through academic appointments and training; to increase collaborative interdisciplinary research grant applications and interaction with policy makers and the private sector through consultancy.
Cardiff University School of Social Sciences
The School of Social Sciences is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and teaching across a range of subject areas, including Social Policy, Sociology, Criminology, Education, Social Psychology, and Social Work.
We deliver a substantial programme of research, both fundamental and strategic, funded by ESRC, AHRC, MRC, charitable foundations, the European Union, Central Government departments and agencies and voluntary associations. In the 2021 UK Research Excellence Framework the School was returned to two sub panels, Sociology and Education. We were placed in the top ten in each sub panel by grade point average, joint first for impact in Education and fourth overall for research power in Sociology.
The School has a large student population, with almost 1000 undergraduates, and 300 postgraduates. We have ESRC recognition for doctoral training in the fields of Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology, Education, and Science, Technology and Innovation and have secured a large number of ESRC collaborative doctoral awards. Our taught and postgraduate research programmes welcome students from around the world.
The School hosts a number of research centres and institutes, including the University’s Police Studies Institute (UPSI), now part of the University’s Crime & Security Research Institute; the Wales Institute for Economic Research & Data (WISERD); the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE); the Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer); the Cardiff Unit for Research and Evaluation in Medical and Dental Education (CUREMeDE); and the Seafarers’ International Research Centre (SIRC). Many of the School’s research centres are housed in the University’s Social Science Research Park (SPARK) – a world first, and part of the University’s wider Innovation Campus.
The School of Social Sciences holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in academia. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We actively encourage women to apply. We will also always consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities.