THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
Role Profile Form

Job Title:Research Associate/Fellow (fixed term)

School/Department:School of Law

Salary:£25,513- £37,394 per annum, depending on skills and experience (minimum £28,695 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance

Job Family and Level:Research and Teaching Level 4 Training Grade or Level 4

Contract Status:Fixed-term until 31 July 2016.

Hours of Work:36.25 hours per week.

Location:University Park Campus

Reporting to:Professor Dirk van Zyl Smit

Purpose of the Role:

The purpose of this role is to collate, manage and analyse social and legal information on life imprisonment on a global scale. The post-holder will join an inter-disciplinary team of experts on life imprisonment and will assist in carrying out a literature review of life imprisonment around the world as part of a Leverhulme Research project. The post-holder will take a lead role in overseeing the development and maintenance of a relational database of legal and social-scientific information on life imprisonment worldwide and will also assist in the collection of qualitative materials and in the administration of the project as a whole.In particular, the post-holderwill analyse and compare legal provisions dealing with life imprisonment in different legal systems.

The person appointed will have the opportunity to use their initiative and creativity to identify areas for research, develop research methods and extend their research portfolio.

Main Responsibilities
To developresearch objectives and proposals in connection with the above project.
To plan and conduct research using recognised approaches, methodologies and techniques within the research area including:
  • Literature review
  • Assistance with the development of life imprisonment database
  • Management of life imprisonment database
  • Collection of qualitative materials

To analyse and illuminate legal and other data, interpret reports, evaluate and criticise texts and bring new insights to research area including taking the lead on legal analysis and statistical input.
To write up research work for publication and/or contribute to the dissemination at national/international conferences, resulting in successful research outputs.
To build relationships with both internal and external contacts in order to exchange information, to form relationships for future collaborations and identify potential sources of funds and/or opportunities for collaboration.
To co-ordinate the operational aspect of research networks, for example, arranging meetings and updating websites etc and contribute to collaborative decision-making with colleagues in area of research.
To collaborate with academic colleagues on areas of shared interest for example, course development, collaborative or joint research projects.
To plan and manage own research activity and resolve problems, if required, in meeting own/team research objectives and deadlines in collaboration with others.
To utilise and contribute to organising research resources and facilities, laboratories and workshops as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/ Education /
  • Good first degree (or equivalent) in law or the social sciences.
  • Relevant post graduate or professional qualification
/
  • PhD in a relevant area (or equivalent).

Skills/Training /
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including the ability to communicate with clarity on complex information.
  • High analytical ability to analyse and illuminate legal texts and data, interpret reports, and evaluate and criticise texts in order to develop new insights.
  • Ability to creatively apply relevant legal and social sciences research approaches, models, techniques and methods.
  • Ability to assess and organise resource requirements and deploy effectively.
  • Ability to build relationships and collaborate with others, both internally and externally.
/
  • Knowledge of other UN languages.

Experience /
  • Some practical experience of applying the specialist skills and approaches and techniques required for the role.
  • Experience in use of different research methodologies and techniques to work within area.
/
  • Extensive research experience and demonstrated ability for advanced quantitative analyses.
  • Experience of working with offender populations.
  • Demonstrated publication record and experience in using legal, quantitative and qualitative methods

Decision Making

i)Taken independently by the role holder;

  • Time management and planning day-to-day activities to fit within requirements of the project.

ii)Taken in collaboration with others;

  • Publication decisions, papers, conference abstracts etc.

iii)Referred to the appropriate line manager by the role holder

  • Wider research strategy of the research group.
  • Any decisions relating to a necessary and unavoidable change in project specifications and outputs.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Dirk van Zyl Smit by email (). Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Applicants will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as defined by the requirements set out by the UK Border and Immigration Agency. Please visit for more information.

Please quote ref: LSS