Postdoctoral Research Associate in Social Anthropology of Responsible Innovation and Electric Composite Futures in North East

Working at Durham University

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The Role and Department

The Anthropology Department at Durham University has an outstanding international reputation for teaching and research. We are one of the largest and most diverse Anthropology Departments in the UK, with over 30 permanent academic staff. Each year, we welcome over 130 undergraduate students and around 50 postgraduate students from around the world.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Post-doctoral Research Associate position to work in the Department of Anthropology at Durham University. The successful candidate will join a five-year EPSRC Programme Grant project called "Electrical Composites" (EleComp) that involves eleven academics from Imperial College London, University of Bristol and Durham University. The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary team of electrochemists, material scientists, composite engineers, fellow anthropologists and sustainability experts on structural power composites (SPCs). These transformative materials can do two things at once: store electrical energy whilst carrying mechanical loads. SPCs have been heralded by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as one of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025, which recognised their potential to fundamentally reshape how infrastructure, aerospace, automotive, and electronic products are designed and manufactured. By simultaneously delivering lightweighting and efficient energy storage, these materials will provide huge weight and volume savings. They will offer tremendous design freedoms, delivering products that just can't be achieved with conventional batteries.

The EleComp team will meet the overarching scientific, engineering and societal goals required to realise Electric Composites. Pursuit of these goals will be directed by new Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tools that include an anthropological perspective; a unique approach to responsible and inclusive engineering and material science. As well as working directly with the pioneers and international leaders in SPCs, you will closely interact with a broad international academic, policy and industrial network. EleComp will provide you with an inspirational and supportive research environment to cross-fertilise ideas and develop new multidisciplinary skills. With SPCs having garnered considerable public, academic and industrial interest, this is an opportunity for you to contribute to unveiling an Electric Composites future that will impact future generations and profoundly affect everybody's lives.

Key Responsibilities

• To conduct extensive, multisited ethnographic research under the direction of the work-package lead and/or project PI.
• To plan and manage own research activity, including taking responsibility for data collection and data management in line with the project data management plan.
• To analyse data and to develop and execute plans for individual and co-authored publications on the basis of these materials via discussion with the work-package lead and project PI.
• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To work collaboratively with other members of the project, and contribute to fostering a supportive, mutually beneficial interdisciplinary environment.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.

This post is initially advertised on a fixed term basis for two years with the possibility to extend up to a five year period, subject to performance. The post is subject to standard probationary terms. Further information will be issued in the contract of employment.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by October 2026 or as soon as possible.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You'll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
• We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• A good first degree in Social Anthropology or related disciplines.
• A PhD (or be close to submission) in Social Anthropology or a related subject.

Experience

• Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
• Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
• Disciplinary experience in the anthropologies of: the future; sustainability; science, technology or innovation; infrastructure; knowledge or expertise.
• Experience in working in interdisciplinary contexts.

Skills

• Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable Criteria

Experience

• Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team.
• A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
• Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.
• Experience of publishing for non-academic audiences
• Overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.

Skills

• Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.