Job Description

About Us
The University of Cambridge is one of the world's leading academic institutions, renowned for its excellence in education, research, and innovation. For nearly 800 years, we've been at the forefront of ground breaking discoveries, shaping global knowledge across diverse fields. We boast 31 colleges, over 150 faculties and departments, and a thriving ecosystem of museums, libraries, and research centres.
We are now looking for a Research Associate to join us on a part-time basis (0.5 FTE), on a fixed-term contract from 1st April 2026 until 31st May 2027.
The Benefits

• Salary of 37,694-46,049 per annum (pro rata)
• Generous annual leave allowance (pro rata)
• Generous maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement and other family-friendly schemes, including workplace nurseries
• An auto-enrolment pension scheme with a generous employer contribution
• University Staff Counselling Service
• Travel benefits and retail discounts at over 2,000 local and national stores
• Schemes to support relocation
• Development opportunities

This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented and highly qualified education professional from a STEM or geography background with qualitative data collection and analysis expertise to join our world-renowned institution.
You will have the chance to work within one of the world's most respected academic environments, gaining critical experience while building your research portfolio and pushing your talents to the next level.
Alongside the intellectual challenge, this role offers flexibility and balance, supporting part-time working while allowing you to engage deeply with a ground-breaking research programme.
The Role
As a Research Associate, you will provide research support for the ESRC-funded project, Decolonising STEM and geography education in secondary schools: exploring agency and curriculum-making across England and Scotland.
This research initiative will empower teachers to challenge preconceptions across STEM and geography curricula to support more inclusive learning. Resources and teaching methods will be developed, and educators will be supported to integrate diverse perspectives, confront bias, and move beyond a neutral scientific view to acknowledge historical context.
Specifically, your role will involve leading qualitative data collection and analysis across different phases of the project, including online interviews with STEM and geography educators, school-based observations, and interviews. Collaborating across online workshops, you will work closely with educators and schools to support high-quality, ethically robust data collection.
To be considered as a Research Associate, you will need:

• A doctoral degree in a relevant subject, such as education or social research, by the time of appointment
• Previous experience in teaching, research, consultancy, or related work within the UK's formal education sector
• Experience of qualitative data collection and analysis
• Experience in STEM and/or geography education contexts
• An understanding of UK educational policy, including teacher education and professional practice
• Knowledge of STEM and/or geography education scholarship and practice
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively, meeting deadlines with strong attention to detail
• Strong organisational and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The willingness to travel across England for school-based data collection

Please note, this role requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check which will be carried out upon appointment.
Other organisations may call this role Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research Fellow, Education Research Associate, Research Associate in Education, or Qualitative Research Associate.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
For detailed information about the role and working for the University, please see the 'Further Information' link at the bottom of the advert.
Informal enquiries can be addressed to Dr Haira Gandolfi via
If you have any questions about the application process, or have any difficulties with applying for the vacancy, please contact the Faculty of Education HR team at
Please quote reference JR48370 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Further information

Skills Required