Postdoctoral Research Associate

at  Durham University

Postdoctoral Research Associate (Job Number: 25000090)
Durham Law School
Grade 7: - £41,421 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 30 months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 18-Feb-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A good first degree in Law
• PhD or close to completion in one of these areas or disciplines: Data Privacy Law, Data Protection Law, AI Law, or Law and Technology more broadly, Sociology, Politics and International Relations.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
• Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
• Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national/international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
• Experience in Skills and experience in socio-legal research methods and more specifically qualitative research methods such as interviews and focus groups.

SKILLS

• Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

EXPERIENCE

• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
• A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
• Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.
• Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.
• Experience in knowledge of impact assessment methodologies and experience in conducting them, including ethical and societal impacts.

SKILLS

• Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.

THE ROLE AND DEPARTMENT

Durham Law School is one of the very best UK law schools with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. Consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally and Top 50 globally, it has been growing strongly over the past few years and now comprises a community of over 100 academics and professional support staff.
The Law School now seeks to appoint a talented individual to the role of Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) as part of the Horizon Europe project Enabling Circular Value Chains via Production Digitisation and Human Empowerment (ENCIRCLE). Working with the PI, Dr Stergios Aidinlis, the PDRA is for a two-and-a-half-year duration (30 months), starting on the 1st of April 2025 and based in the Durham Law School.
The project, bringing together a consortium of fifteen (15) organisations across Europe, adopts a multidisciplinary perspective in responsibly developing AI-enhanced and circular technologies that will empower business developers to formulate circular business cases and consumers to make eco-responsible choices. Durham’s role in the project is to conduct a legal, ethical and societal impact assessment of the ENCIRCLE technologies, ensure the integration of social sciences and humanities expertise in research and development activities and assist project partners in preparing for regulatory compliance under applicable legal frameworks.

THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity for an early career researcher interested in conducting impactful work that can tangibly drive real-world change as part of an experienced and esteemed team of research collaborators. The successful applicant will have experience of and interest in the regulation and governance of data-driven technologies, including AI, as well as in the assessment and monitoring of the impact on such technologies on safety and fundamental rights.
This is a full-time, fixed-term position until the 30th of September 2027.
Please contact Stergios.aidinlis@durham.ac.uk for further information.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
• Any other specific responsibilities.
  This post is fixed term for 30 months until 30th September 27, this is because the project is time limited and will end on 30th September 27.
  The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.
  Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1st April 25