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- Tasks: Join a dynamic team researching online harms against women and girls.
- Company: The Open University is dedicated to equality, diversity, and impactful research.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in tackling gender-based violence through innovative research.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant fields and knowledge of technology-facilitated violence required.
- Other info: Hybrid working available; some office attendance expected.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 60000 £ per year.
Post Doctoral Research Associate in Policing Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link
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Language View profile Employee Login Job Description Post Doctoral Research Associate in Policing Apply now Advert Reference Number: 954 Job Location: Milton Keynes Department: Department for Policing Salary: £38,784 pro-rata (actual £19,392) Closing Date: 21 September 2025 Weekly Working Hours: 18.5 Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 20 months from start date Welsh Language: Not Applicable Job Description:
About the role
We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join the Policing stream of the Centre for Protecting Women Online (CPWO), funded by Research England. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr Keely Duddin (Lecturer in Policing), and other CPWO stream leads, to support and develop research that explores the policing of online harms against women and girls.
This role is ideal for a dynamic and collaborative researcher with an interest in applied, impact-led work in the areas of gender-based violence, digital abuse, and public protection. You will play a key role in supporting current research projects, co-developing new funding bids, and building cross-sector partnerships, particularly with policing, criminal justice, and civil society organisations. A successful candidate would also contribute to Centre’s publications and knowledge exchange activities. Relevant training and professional development opportunities will be made available.
We are especially keen to hear from applicants with a background in criminology, psychology, policing studies, socio-legal studies, or a closely related field.
Project Description
The Centre for Protecting Women Online is a research unit dedicated to tackling online harms affecting women and girls through a novel, interdisciplinary research agenda. Our work spans five interwoven streams – policing, law and policy, human behaviour, technology, and design – to produce collaborative outputs and interventions that inform national and international responses to gendered digital harm. Please visit our Centre website CPWO Centre link and LinkedIn page LinkedIn CPWO link for further details.
The policing stream focuses on the readiness, capability, and response of UK police forces to emerging online threats, such as, for example, deepfake abuse, online stalking, AI-enabled VAWG, hybrid online–offline coercive control, cyberflashing, and the misuse of smart devices for surveillance and control. The successful candidate will support and grow this work, feeding into real-time research, knowledge exchange, and practice-led outputs with national impact.
Key Responsibilities
The person appointed will be expected to contribute to the research, knowledge exchange and administration. The main responsibilities of the role include:
- Play an active part in building and supporting the Centre’s research culture.
- Initiate and contribute to innovative funding bids in collaboration with other researchers.
- Support the development and submission of funding bids in the Centre including working on systematic literature reviews, data and impact plans, networking with non-academic stakeholders and partners, working with internal research staff and scoping of potential funding sources.
- Assist with producing research outputs, including presentation and publication.
- Contribute to and support delivery of knowledge exchange and impact activities.
- Contribute and support current research related activities and projects in the Centre.
- Contribute to the delivery of the University’s research and knowledge exchange strategy.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of the University’s local, national and international academic and community networks related to Centre-related research.
- Work closely with key members of the Centre to support and enhance the postgraduate research culture.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- A PhD in Criminology, Psychology, Policing Studies, Sociology, or a related field (or evidence of near completion).
- Demonstrable knowledge of gender-based violence and/or technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF-VAWG).
- Familiarity with research on online environments and digital harms, particularly social media and emerging tech-enabled threats.
- Expertise in social science research methods, including qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.
- Experience of writing or communicating research findings to non-specialist audiences, including practitioners or policymakers.
- An existing track record of publications in a relevant area (commensurate with career stage).
- Excellent IT, data management, and organisational skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and experience working collaboratively as part of a research or interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and respond flexibly to changing research demands.
- A demonstrable commitment to equality, ethical research practices, and continuous professional development.
Desirable
- Experience of grant bidding to external funders.
- Experience of working and interacting with external organisations, particularly policing and criminal justice agencies and/or culturally diverse communities.
- Experience of working in cross-disciplinary research teams.
- Experience of PhD supervision.
- Experience of designing and carrying out empirical research with practitioners and/or victims.
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately once a month.
To apply for this role please submit the following as one document;
- CV
- Personal statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.
Please Note: We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.
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Post Doctoral Research Associate in Policing employer: The Open University UK
Contact Detail:
The Open University UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Post Doctoral Research Associate in Policing
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the field of policing and gender-based violence. Attend relevant conferences or webinars to meet potential collaborators and gain insights into current research trends.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the Centre for Protecting Women Online's work and its key projects. This will help you tailor your discussions during interviews and demonstrate your genuine interest in their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Engage with current literature on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. Being well-versed in recent studies will allow you to contribute meaningfully to discussions and show your expertise.
✨Tip Number 4
Consider reaching out to Dr Keely Duddin or other team members for an informal chat about the role. This can provide valuable insights and demonstrate your proactive approach to joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Post Doctoral Research Associate in Policing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills for the Post Doctoral Research Associate in Policing position. Tailor your application to highlight how your background aligns with these requirements.
Craft a Compelling Personal Statement: Your personal statement is crucial. Use it to express your interest in the role and provide specific examples of your skills and experiences that meet the competencies outlined in the job description. Keep it concise and focused, aiming for clarity and impact.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and personal statement, emphasise any relevant experience you have in criminology, psychology, or policing studies. Mention any research projects, publications, or collaborations that demonstrate your expertise in gender-based violence and technology-facilitated violence against women and girls.
Proofread and Format: Ensure your application documents are well-formatted and free from errors. A clean, professional presentation reflects your attention to detail. Consider asking a colleague or mentor to review your application before submission to catch any mistakes or suggest improvements.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Open University UK
✨Know Your Research
Make sure you are well-versed in the latest research related to gender-based violence and technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. Familiarise yourself with the Centre for Protecting Women Online's work and be ready to discuss how your background aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
This role requires working closely with various stakeholders, including policing and criminal justice agencies. Be prepared to share examples of past collaborative projects and how you effectively communicated and built relationships with diverse teams.
✨Prepare Your Personal Statement
Your personal statement is crucial. Clearly articulate why you're interested in this role and provide specific examples of how your skills and experiences meet the job requirements. Tailor it to reflect your understanding of the Centre's mission and your potential contributions.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Adaptability
Given the dynamic nature of research, it's important to show that you can adapt to changing demands. Prepare to discuss instances where you've successfully managed competing priorities or adjusted your approach based on new information or feedback.
