Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to a project funded by the Nuffield Foundation – Understanding and Developing User-Focussed Tribunal Hearings – working with Professor Chris Gill and Professor Tom Mullen. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

Background to the project which the Research Associate will support

Every year, UK tribunals hear hundreds of thousands of appeals against government decisions in important policy areas such as social security, housing, education, and immigration. Tribunals are crucial for realising access to justice, working in areas where citizens are often disadvantaged and disempowered in relation to the state. In this context, tribunals are expected to be user-focused institutions. User-focus suggests a central interest in meeting users’ needs, including by ensuring that tribunals are participative, informal, free from unnecessary technicality, and flexible. However, the idea that tribunals should be user-focused has – since the 1950s – stood in considerable tension with the notion that they are also judicial bodies conforming to principles of openness, fairness and impartiality. This tension continues to be a feature of tribunal policy, with the current system, created following major legislative reforms in the last 20 years, aiming to be both more judicial in character and more “user-focused”. How these countervailing aims have been pursued and how they might be achieved are questions at the heart of this proposal. This research will address these questions by developing a bottom-up understanding of user-focus and exploring how tribunals – following legislative reform and an extensive modernisation programme – have sought to maintain and develop user-focused approaches. Ultimately, the project will explore and enhance user-focused approaches in tribunals, providing the first major tribunal study following legislative reform and contributing a novel lens through comparison between different chambers (social security, education, and housing) and different jurisdictions (Great Britain/ England and Scotland).

We would particularly welcome candidates whose work to date has included conducting and analysing qualitative semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation. Experience of working with vulnerable research participants and interviewing people with regard to potentially sensitive issues would also be an advantage, as would experience of conducting elite interviews. The role would particularly suit someone with previous experience of researching socio-legal topics, but social scientists with appropriate methodological skills developed in other settings would also be well suited to the project.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.                   Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables.

2.                   Develop research outputs including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

3.                   Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of the University of Glasgow’s School of Law, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed publications, enhancing the impact of the research in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

4.                   Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

5.                   As opportunities arise, present work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

6.                   Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

7.                   Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the project team/ School/ College/ University and wider community (e.g. Academic and Industrial Partners).

8.                   Take a leading role in project team/ meetings, workshops, and events and School research activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

9.                   Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the project team and School, including organising events, making meeting notes, and anonymising data for archiving.

10.              Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

11.              Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

12.              Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School.

13.              Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University Strategy, World Changing Glasgow 2025.

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) with at least 2 years’ post-doctoral experience or alternatively possess the equivalent in professional qualifications and experience, with experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

Skills

Essential:

C1 Excellent knowledge and experience of empirical qualitative methodologies, including qualitative interviews and/ or non-participant observation.

C2 Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in the social sciences, appropriate to an early career researcher.

C3 Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner.

C4 A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality publications/conferences.

C5 Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design & analysis of experiments & drafting of papers.

C6 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

C7 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

C8 Familiarity with Nvivo (or other similar qualitative data analysis software).

Desirable:

D1 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the wider subject area or subject specialism.

D2 Knowledge and experience of using research findings to develop conceptual models.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities.

E2 Experience in undertaking independent research.

Desirable:

F1 Ability to engage with non-academic audiences and develop outputs (such as toolkits and policy briefs) aimed at generating changes in policy and practice.

Informal enquiries may be directed to Professor Chris Gill, Chris.Gill@glasgow.ac.uk  

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.

This post is full time and fixed term from 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2026.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date : 10 July 2025 @23:45