Postdoctoral Research Associate (Job Number: 25000144)
Department of Economics
Grade 7: - £37,999 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 2 Years
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 03-Mar-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. A good first degree in relevant subject.
2. A PhD (or be close to submission) in Economics or similar relevant subject (e.g. Finance, Management)

EXPERIENCE

1. Experience in conducting high quality academic research.

SKILLS

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

EXPERIENCE

1. Experience of developing high quality impactful research through collaborative projects with external organisations.
2. A track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
3. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
4. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.
5. Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.
6. Experience of working with confidential firm-level data.

SKILLS

1. Knowledge of trends and dynamics of North-East SMEs.
2. Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research

THE ROLE

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the Contribution of Scale-ups to the North East Economy research project. The project consists of two components: the first aims to understand scaleup activities in the North East of England while the second focuses on how business support organisations contribute to the success of the regional economy. This advertisement relates primarily to the first component. Specifically, it will use longitudinal, firm-level databases to investigate why the North East suffers from a scaleup deficit relative to other regions of the United Kingdom and the effects of this deficit on the economic performance (measured by variables such as productivity and innovativeness) of the North East.
The successful applicant will work alongside the project Principal Investigator, Dr John Moffat, and the project partner as well as the rest of the academic project team. The role is funded by Durham University Business School’s Smart & Scale initiative which is an interdisciplinary impact-driven research programme in smart and scale-up activities, focusing on innovation and business development of SMEs in the North-East of England.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To work with the Principal Investigator and other colleagues in the research project, as appropriate, to build and analyse datasets to fulfil the objectives of the project.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To facilitate 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.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator.
• To work with the Principal Investigator 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 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].
  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 April 2025.