Research Associate

at  University of York

ESRC VULNERABILITY AND POLICING FUTURES RESEARCH CENTRE

Are you an ambitious mixed methods researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have a research interest in policing and vulnerable groups, and the interactions between them and other service providers? Are you committed to advancing and shaping policies and practice in policing futures? Do you want to further your career at a leading research-intensive University?
You will work within the ESRC Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre, jointly led from York and Leeds universities by Professor Charlie Lloyd and Professor Adam Crawford along with a team of over 25 leading researchers from diverse social science disciplines. Working with a large team that includes data scientists, qualitative researchers, Associated PhD researchers and professional support staff, and alongside 38 regional, national and international partners, you will play an important role, assuming significant fieldwork and data collection responsibilities, as well as contributing to data analysis and writing up the findings. With a doctorate (or equivalent research experience) relevant to this research field and proven experience of empirical research, you will initially work on two research projects, one on policing and mental illness, the other on policing and modern slavery. You will undertake a broad range of tasks from analysis of quantitative data to qualitative interviews and ‘ride-alongs’ with police officers. More broadly over the three years, you will be conducting fieldwork; synthesising existing evidence, developing research collaborations, report and article writing, and liaising with project partners.
The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED

• First Degree and PhD in a relevant subject area or equivalent research experience. This could include but is not limited to the disciplinary fields of criminology, social policy, sociology, psychology, public administration, management studies or political science.
• Knowledge and understanding of vulnerability and contemporary policing relevant to the mission of the Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre (VPRC).
• Knowledge and understanding of the challenges in undertaking research with vulnerable groups, including relevant ethical issues pertaining to quantitative and qualitative data collection and access.
• Strong quantitative and data analytic skills: demonstrable experience of working with primary and secondary data, undertaking multivariate statistical analyses and statistical tests in SPSS,R and/or Python.
• Advanced qualitative research skills with demonstrable experience of semi-structured interviews.
  Interview Date: to be confirmed
  For informal enquiries: please contact Professor Charlie Lloyd, Co-Director of the Centre, and the line manager for this post: charlie.lloyd@york.ac.uk
  The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.
  We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.
  We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

This post represents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Centre’s innovative, interdisciplinary approach. We are building knowledge from problem-based and place-based perspectives, about the interactions between vulnerability and service providers’ responses, and using these findings to build new, integrated and innovative approaches to harm reduction that address the needs of vulnerable groups. Current funding runs to 30 April 2027, with the potential for a further five years of tapered funding thereafter.
You will be line-managed directly by Professor Charlie Lloyd at the University of York, and will work alongside other Centre researchers and Co-investigators who are experts in their fields, in delivering cutting-edge research on vulnerability and policing. You will contribute to team meetings and, with the support of senior academics, present findings from your research to a variety of professional and public audiences.
This post offers excellent potential to develop an outstanding research career. A generous training budget is available and you will also be encouraged to attend international conferences and other events, and publish research in leading academic journals. You will also play an active role in research translation, application and impact, working with police, public service and NGO partners on policy and practice development.
Candidates must be willing and able to complete DBS and police vetting checks once in post. Additionally, because of the requirement to undergo police vetting to enable the research to be carried out, the successful candidate must have been resident in the UK for at least three years at the time of appointment.
Further information about the ESRC Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre is available at https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/