Last updated: / 5 July 2016

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post title: / Research Fellow
(Understanding family dynamics in later life and the implications for intergeneration transfers)
Academic Unit/Service: / Social Sciences/ ESRC Centre for Population Change, Centre for Research on Ageing
Faculty: / FSHMS
Career Pathway: / Education, Research and Enterprise (ERE) / Level: / 4
*ERE category: / Research pathway
Posts responsible to: / Prof Maria Evandrou (Theme Leader), Prof Jane Falkingham (Director, ESRC Centre for Population Change) and Dr Athina Vlachantoni
Posts responsible for: / None
Post base: / Office-based
Job purpose
To undertake research as part of the Centre for Population Change (CPC) funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The main duties of this post-holder will be to conduct research within Theme 4 (Understanding intergenerational relations and exchange) under the guidance of Prof Evandrou, Prof Falkingham and Dr Vlachantoni. In particular, the research will focus on understanding patterns of social networks, partnership dissolution and formation in later life and the implications for intergenerational transfers such as provision of informal care and inheritance wealth.
Key accountabilities/primary responsibilities / % Time /
1.  / Conduct literature reviews and source data on changes in patterns of partnerships and social networks in later life and intergenerational flows of support. / 20%
2.  / Prepare data sets for analysis: i.e. downloading, linking and deriving variables from various studies including English Longitudinal Survey of Ageing, and its international equivalents including Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), KLoSA in South Korea, JSTAR in Japan, CHARLS in China and LASI in India. / 10%
3.  / Conduct analyses and modelling of these data. / 40
4.  / Contribute to dissemination of findings through conference presentations and the joint writing of papers / 20%
5.  / Assist with workshops and other meetings, both internal research meetings and external workshops involving policy-makers and other collaborators / 5%
6.  / Work collaboratively other members of the CPC and the Centre for Research on Ageing / 5%
Internal and external relationships /
Internal: The post-holder will work under the day to day direction of Evandrou, Falkingham and Vlachantoni and the overall direction of the Centre Director (Prof Jane Falkingham). As a member of CPC they will also liaise closely with other researchers within the Centre, including those in Scotland. The post holder will be expected, whenever possible, to contribute to the activities of the Centre, including seminar attendance, organisation of seminars, and attendance at team meetings
External: The post-holder will need to become familiar with the complex datasets and is likely to develop links with the data providers in order to achieve this.
Special Requirements /
This position requires a willingness to travel within the UK (and occasionally overseas) to attend meetings and conferences
There may be a need to spend a period of time (up to 2 weeks) in Stirling and/or St Andrews working with CPC-Scotland collaborators
*Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.
Further details /
Depending on their skills and experience, the post-holder may also be involved in the analysis of carers’ time use data with colleagues in CPC-Scotland.
The post-holder may also be asked to contribute to other research tasks and projects in the Centre where their skills are appropriate, as required by the Centre Director. They will be expected to contribute to the general Centre activities including seminars, workshops and conferences. The post holder will be required to work with the Centre Research Manager and the Centre Knowledge Exchange Manager to disseminate information about the project through electronic and social media as well as in written form. They will be expected to contribute to general Centre activities including seminars, workshops and conferences

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, knowledge and experience / PhD or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in a quantitative social science discipline
Solid experience in the management and handling of data from large and complex datasets
Solid practical experience in the use of STATA and/or SPSS
Experience in analysing longitudinal or panel data such as ELSA , SHARE, CHARLS, LASI
Knowledge and experience in using advanced statistical modelling techniques e.g. event history analysis / Knowledge and experience in using qualitative methods
Knowledge and interest in relevant substantive issues e.g. life course research, health and social care in later life. / Application
Application and Interview
Application and Interview
Application and Interview
Application and Interview
Planning and organising / Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to work to deadlines. / Application and Interview
Interview
Problem solving and initiative / Ability to conceptualise research themes and carry out statistical analyses under own initiative / Application and Interview
Management and teamwork / Ability to work as part of a team / Application and Interview
Communicating and influencing / Ability to collaborate in writing research presentations and papers. / Application and Interview
Other skills and behaviours / Word processing, internet and bibliographic search skills / Application
Special requirements / Occasional travel to data providers, meetings and conferences / Interview

JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS

Is this an office-based post?

☒ Yes / If this post is an office-based job with routine office hazards (eg: use of VDU), no further information needs to be supplied. Do not complete the section below.
☐ No / If this post is not office-based or has some hazards other than routine office (eg: more than use of VDU) please complete the analysis below.
Hiring managers are asked to complete this section as accurately as possible to ensure the safety of the post-holder.

## - HR will send a full PEHQ to all applicants for this position. Please note, if full health clearance is required for a role, this will apply to all individuals, including existing members of staff.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES / Occasionally
(<30% of time) / Frequently
(30-60% of time) / Constantly
(> 60% of time)
Outside work
Extremes of temperature (eg: fridge/ furnace)
## Potential for exposure to body fluids
## Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa)
## Exposure to hazardous substances (eg: solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify below:
Frequent hand washing
Ionising radiation
EQUIPMENT/TOOLS/MACHINES USED
## Food handling
## Driving university vehicles(eg: car/van/LGV/PCV)
## Use of latex gloves (prohibited unless specific clinical necessity)
## Vibrating tools (eg: strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers)
PHYSICAL ABILITIES
Load manual handling
Repetitive crouching/kneeling/stooping
Repetitive pulling/pushing
Repetitive lifting
Standing for prolonged periods
Repetitive climbing (ie: steps, stools, ladders, stairs)
Fine motor grips (eg: pipetting)
Gross motor grips
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height
PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES
Face to face contact with public
Lone working
## Shift work/night work/on call duties

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