ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• Current enrollment in a PhD program or post-doctoral researcher in a related field.
• Strong research skills, including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Interest in equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives within academic settings.
  We believe equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to making the University of Southampton a welcoming, vibrant and successful organisation. Having a diverse workforce, inclusive of people of all ages and beliefs, from different racial backgrounds, educational and social backgrounds opens up a wealth of possibilities, makes us more creative and accelerates our impact on society. We welcome applicants that value diversity of our community and are willing to play their part in supporting the mission of inclusivity.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Department of Politics and International Relations (PAIR) is establishing an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee as part of its commitment to fostering an inclusive research culture. We are seeking a motivated postgraduate researcher (PhD student or post-doctoral scholar) to join this initiative as a Research Assistant.

The Research Assistant will play a key role in conducting an EDI audit of the department, a foundational activity that will shape PAIR’s future strategy for equity and inclusivity. The audit will involve:

• Evaluating workload distribution, administrative responsibilities, and postgraduate research experiences.
• Analyzing departmental policies and data.
• Conducting surveys and focus groups with staff and postgraduate research (PGR) students.

Given the work involved we are keen for applications from PGRs in other departments and schools different to PAIR.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Undertake desk-based research using departmental policies and data.
• Design and conduct surveys and focus groups to gather insights from staff and PGR students
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate EDI strengths and areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with committee members to draft the audit report and EDI strategy
• Any other duties as allocated by the line manager following consultation with the post holder.