Research Assistant - CSA project

Birkbeck, University of London, is looking for a highly organised and empathetic Research Assistant to join a multi-disciplinary research team this Autumn 2024.

Working at Birkbeck's School of Historical Studies, you will join a project producing the first social, cultural and medical history into recovery from child sexual abuse in Britain and Ireland (1950-2020). The child sexual abuse project will prioritise survivor experiences and offer a challenge to medical and psychiatric expertise on what makes a ‘good recovery’, or supports individuals to live with the aftermaths.

As our Research Assistant you will:

• have the opportunity to support the project lead in co-creating new oral histories with victim-survivors and practitioners including planning, piloting, undertaking, processing and archiving interviews.
• play a pivotal role in exploring ways to ethically reuse historical data gathered by partner organisations to help add to the historical record of survivor experiences.
• have the opportunity to develop your skills as an oral historian.
• contribute to project activities and outputs, including report writing, website and social media development, as well as organising public and academic events.

To succeed as our Research Assistant you:

• will be a great communicator who wants to work with survivors and practitioners in a safe, sensitive and empowering way.
• have specialist knowledge in the subject area, demonstrated through academic and/or practical experience relating to interpersonal violence or abuse (children or adults).
• have some knowledge of research methods and be interested in developing these further.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of childhood abuse or those who have provided services to survivors.

We also encourage Black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within Birkbeck at this level.

If you wish to undertake academic study after completing your probation successful, funding is likely to be available.

Contract:

Fixed-term 4 year contract until 2028 . This is a full-time role (35 hours a week), hybrid working with at least three days a week in the office. Closing date is 14 October 2024. Interview date is 24 & 29 October 2024. An enhanced DBS check required.

Salary and benefits:

£37,143 rising to £42,365 per annum, Grade 6 of the College's London Pay Scale.

Birkbeck offers a competitive salary and pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, flexible working arrangements and some of the most generous benefits in the HE sector, all while being located right in the heart of Central London.

The salary quoted is on the College's London Pay Scale which includes a consolidated Weighting/Allowance which applies only to staff whose normal contractual place of work is in the London area. 

Enquiries:

If you would like to know more about the role, please click on apply below or contact the Principal Investigator, Dr Ruth Beecher, at r.beecher@bbk.ac.uk

If you have technical issues or difficulties using the recruitment portal, please contact jobs@bbk.ac.uk providing your name and the job reference number of the position. While we are happy to respond to all informal enquiries, only formal applications through the online system will be considered.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community. The College is committed to improving the gender and cultural diversity of its workforce, holding an Athena SWAN award and operating Disability Confident & Mindful Employer schemes -www.birkbeck.ac.uk/jobs