Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography (Job Number: 25001169)
Department of Geography
Grade 7: - £38,784 - £41,064 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 27 months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 07-Oct-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A good first degree in a social science or arts and humanities subject.
• A PhD (or be close to submission) in a topic relevant to heritage and green corridors.

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 conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
• Experience in of working collaboratively with academic and non-academic partners to develop and deliver applied research and/or impact. They should also have experience of using participatory methods when working with stakeholders.

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 and stakeholders.
• Experience in helping to organise and host public engagement events (e.g. workshops or walk and talks).

SKILLS

1. Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research

THE ROLE AND DEPARTMENT

Green Corridors North East (GCNE) is a 3-year Arts and Humanities Council (AHRC) funded research project and a pilot for the new AHRC Mission scheme. The project is a collaboration between Newcastle University, Durham University, Teesside University and the National Trust. The project will work alongside an evaluation team from Durham and Northumbria Universities.
The post will be based in the Department of Geography, which comprises 65 academic staff (approximately equally divided between Human and Physical geography), a graduate school of around 100 research students, around 40 taught postgraduate students and 850 undergraduates. The Department is well supported with technical staff, including a cartography unit, and administrative staff.
The Department was ranked joint first for research quality among UK geography departments in REF2021. 54% of our outputs were classed as ‘world leading’ and more than 92% as ‘world leading’ or internationally excellent’. The most recent QS rankings for Geography placed Durham 11th overall in the world. The department is recurrently ranked in the top handful of programmes in the UK by various league tables; for example, we were ranked 1st in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, and 4th in the 2025 Complete University
Guide. For more information, please visit our Department pages at https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/geography/

THE ROLE

We are seeking a Research and Innovation Associate with a particular emphasis on the role of local heritage in the Green Corridors of the North East.
The aim of GCNE is to develop new co-created arts- and humanities-led research practices that will contribute significantly to the transformative regeneration of green corridors in the UK and beyond. The project will develop, spread, and scale a co-produced model of placemaking.
The project spans more than 35 miles of three green corridors in the North East: The Tyne Derwent Way in Gateshead, Durham City Green Corridor, and the Tees to Topping Green Corridor running into and out of Middlesbrough. These three green corridors are part of an ambitious programme being led by the National Trust to help work in partnership to establish 20 green corridors across England, Northern Ireland and Wales by 2030, working in urban areas to address unequal access to and deliver benefits for nature, heritage, and people. Green corridors have risen to prominence as vital tools in urban planning, as well as connecting pockets of nature, they also connect people to their natural and cultural heritage.
The objectives of the project are to (i) convene exceptional teams, bringing together research, professional and community expertise to shape and deliver change, (ii) co-develop research questions and practices that are place based, cross-cutting and focused on environment, community and storytelling; (iii) co-produce research on the four themes of (1) heritage and history (the focus of this post); (2) culture and creativity (the focus of a matching post based at Teesside University); (3) nature and natural heritage (the focus of a matching post based at Newcastle University); (4) active evaluation for learning (e.g. research conducted by team members, serving as learning and evaluation) (supported by staff in Durham and Northumbria Universities); with cross-cutting ‘super themes’ of well-being and stewardship.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 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. of co-created research with community and stakeholder groups.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Co-leads 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, community groups, visitors and students as appropriate.
• 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].