Job Description

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography

(

Job Number:

25001169

)

Department of Geography
Grade 7: - 38,784 - 41,064 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time

Contract Duration

27 months

Contracted Hours per Week

35

Closing Date

07-Oct-2025, 5:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement

Not Applicable.

Working at Durham University

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other.


As one of the UK's leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.


We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it's also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.


Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential.


Our Purpose and Values


We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.


Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page

The Role and Department

Green Corridors North East (GCNE) is a 3-year Arts and Humanities Council (AHRC) funded research project and a pilot for the new AHRC Mission scheme. The project is a collaboration between Newcastle University, Durham University, Teesside University and the National Trust. The project will work alongside an evaluation team from Durham and Northumbria Universities.


The post will be based in the Department of Geography, which comprises 65 academic staff (approximately equally divided between Human and Physical geography), a graduate school of around 100 research students, around 40 taught postgraduate students and 850 undergraduates. The Department is well supported with technical staff, including a cartography unit, and administrative staff.


The Department was ranked joint first for research quality among UK geography departments in REF2021. 54% of our outputs were classed as 'world leading' and more than 92% as 'world leading' or internationally excellent'. The most recent QS rankings for Geography placed Durham 11th overall in the world. The department is recurrently ranked in the top handful of programmes in the UK by various league tables; for example, we were ranked 1st in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, and 4th in the 2025 Complete University


Guide. For more information, please visit our Department pages at https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/geography/

The Role

We are seeking a Research and Innovation Associate with a particular emphasis on the role of local heritage in the Green Corridors of the North East.


The aim of GCNE is to develop new co-created arts- and humanities-led research practices that will contribute significantly to the transformative regeneration of green corridors in the UK and beyond. The project will develop, spread, and scale a co-produced model of placemaking.


The project spans more than 35 miles of three green corridors in the North East: The Tyne Derwent Way in Gateshead, Durham City Green Corridor, and the Tees to Topping Green Corridor running into and out of Middlesbrough. These three green corridors are part of an ambitious programme being led by the National Trust to help work in partnership to establish 20 green corridors across England, Northern Ireland and Wales by 2030, working in urban areas to address unequal access to and deliver benefits for nature, heritage, and people. Green corridors have risen to prominence as vital tools in urban planning, as well as connecting pockets of nature, they also connect people to their natural and cultural heritage.


The objectives of the project are to (i) convene exceptional teams, bringing together research, professional and community expertise to shape and deliver change, (ii) co-develop research questions and practices that are place based, cross-cutting and focused on environment, community and storytelling; (iii) co-produce research on the four themes of (1) heritage and history (the focus of this post); (2) culture and creativity (the focus of a matching post based at Teesside University); (3) nature and natural heritage (the focus of a matching post based at Newcastle University); (4) active evaluation for learning (e.g. research conducted by team members, serving as learning and evaluation) (supported by staff in Durham and Northumbria Universities); with cross-cutting 'super themes' of well-being and stewardship.

Key responsibilities:

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. of co-created research with community and stakeholder groups. To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder. To work with the Co-leads 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 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, community groups, visitors and students as appropriate. 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. [Any other specific responsibilities].

This post is fixed term with funding for 27 months as the project is time limited and will end on 31st March 2028.

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 1st November 2025.

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. 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. It's important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.


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.

Contact Information

Department contact for academic-related enquiries

Professor Mike Crang, Department of Geography, Durham University m.a.crang@durham.ac.uk

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you're experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk


Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process

How to Apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.


While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

a CV and cover letter which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below.

Next Steps

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include an interview and we anticipate that these will take place in or around w/c 13th October.


In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.


Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.


When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications

A good first degree in a social science or arts and humanities subject. A PhD (or be close to submission) in a topic relevant to heritage and green corridors.

Experience

Experience in conducting high quality academic research. Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community. Experience in of working collaboratively with academic and non-academic partners to develop and deliver applied research and/or impact. They should also have experience of using participatory methods when working with stakeholders.

Skills

Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable Criteria

Experience

Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career. 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 and stakeholders. Experience in helping to organise and host public engagement events (e.g. workshops or walk and talks).

Skills

14. Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.