Career Opportunities at Queen's

Opportunity to be a highly productive, ambitious and collaborative member of the research team assisting in the ESRC funded TRACC (Transdisciplinary Research Actions for Resilient Coastal Communities) project, through the delivery of research activities specifically on coastal community resilience, sustainability and marine governance using arts based and social science research methods. A key component of the project is to build transdisciplinary theory and practices for coastal community resilience across diverse stakeholders in the UK and within the project team. The successful candidate will:

• Contribute to the research and training activities required by the QUB team to fulfil its role in the TRACC project.
• Undertake research tasks during the project with the support of the project co-investigators based at Queen’s University Belfast and the network of UK project partners, as a core member of a research team.
• Support the research team leading in the delivery of knowledge synthesis in ocean-climate literacy and community resilience.
• Undertake research activities to co-design and test novel arts-based and social science transdisciplinary research, governance approaches and tools across the NI/IRE case study area.
• Assist with co-creation of transdisciplinary action plans and learning cycles between researchers, stakeholders and the coastal communities.
• Produce high quality research outputs consistent with project aims and commensurate with career stage. This will include collaborating and co-authoring with PI and project team (as appropriate) on outputs.
• Participate in outreach and dissemination activities promoting the TRACC project presenting outcomes at meetings, project workshops and outputs at national and international conferences and through social media.

Please note that this position may be appointable on a part-time basis. The successful candidate must be able to start in early January 2026.

About the person:

The successful candidate will have obtained a PhD in Planning, Geography or Social Sciences and will demonstrate experience to include:

• Undertaking research in the area of coastal communities.
• A proven track record of using relevant arts based qualitative methods with coastal communities.
• Have published at least one peer-reviewed, journal article on issues related to marine governance and/or ocean literacy.
• Sufficient breadth of knowledge in available strategies, techniques and methods for undertaking coastal community based transdisciplinary research.
• Working effectively as part of a research team in the development and promotion of ocean-climate literacy.
• Willingness to contribute to project outreach activities.
• Ability to logically conceptualise and summarise the research findings.
• Ability to work proactively and independently.
• Ability to participate in knowledge transfer and demonstration.
• Evidence of strong publication record commensurate with stage of career.
• Demonstrable ability to contribute to broader management and administrative processes.
• Contribute to the School’s outreach programme by links with industry, community groups
• Practical problem solving skills, independence of thought and initiative.
• Ability to organise resources, manage time, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate complex information in English effectively in oral and written format.
• Ability to build relationships to develop internal and external networks.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Willingness to occasionally work outside core hours, for example during data collection and potentially travel to other institutions of the project team.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application - http://go.qub.ac.uk/internationalstaffsupport.

Candidate Information