Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to the generation, management, analysis and visualisation of qualitative, ethnographic and policy data as part of the UKRI-funded Gambling Harms Research UK Evidence Centre (‘the Centre’). The postholder will contribute to the design and delivery of multi-site ethnographic research examining gambling harms and responses to them across the UK, using qualitative and participatory research methodologies. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals, undertake wider qualitative and policy research activities within the Centre as required, and help manage and direct this complex and challenging project/disciplinary area as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the Centre’s deliverables and research strategy, with particular responsibility for qualitative and ethnographic data generation across multiple research sites in the UK.

2. Conduct ethnographic fieldwork and other qualitative and participatory research activities, including observation, interviewing, focus groups, participatory workshops and other forms of qualitative data generation as appropriate to the project.

3. Establish and maintain productive relationships with research participants, community organisations, lived-experience contributors, service providers, policy stakeholders and other partners relevant to the Centre’s activities.

4. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

5. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of the University of Glasgow/School/Research Group/area, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality, enhancing research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

6. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with gambling harms and related subject areas, and develop/implement a suitable research strategy to deliver project/area requirements and opportunities.

7. Present work at international and national conferences, and at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research and/or impact profile.

8. 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 and impact.

9. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research group/area/School/College/University and wider community (including academic, third-sector, policy and lived-experience partners).

10. Take a leading role in Centre meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group/area activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

11. Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

12. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including budgets/expenditure, ethics documentation, fieldwork organisation and stakeholder engagement activities.

13. Contribute as appropriate to teaching activities (e.g. seminars, methods training, guest lectures, etc.) and associated administration, as may be assigned through the School in consultation with your line manager.

14. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in qualitative, participatory and ethnographic research methods and in the field of gambling harms research.

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

16. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager and the Head of School, including contributing to other Centre research activities requiring qualitative or participatory methodologies.

17. Contribute to the enhancement of the University's international profile in line with University strategy.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) in Sociology, Anthropology, Human Geography, Social Policy, Public Health, Community Development or a cognate social science discipline, plus a track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment; or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience.

A2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions in qualitative social science research and/or research relating to gambling harms, public health, social inequalities, addiction, communities or lived experience.

A3 Well-developed working knowledge of qualitative and participatory research methods, including ethnographic fieldwork, interviewing, observation, focus groups, participatory approaches, qualitative data management and analysis.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Ability to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature and to be effective both orally and in writing at a level appropriate to the activity.

C2 Developing track record of research outputs compatible with enhancing the School’s research profile in accordance with School objectives.

C3 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to career stage, including some experience of research project supervision.

C4 Effective organisational skills to manage time, prioritise and deliver appropriate research, teaching and administrative responsibilities, including managing fieldwork activities across multiple research sites.

C5 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

C6 Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse participants, communities and stakeholders, including those with lived experience of gambling harms.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Experience of making distinct contributions to identifying and pursuing research funding (or equivalent) applications.

E2 Experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement.

E3 Experience of qualitative social research, including data generation, management and analysis (outside of taught degrees).

E4 Experience of conducting ethnographic fieldwork and/or other in-depth qualitative or participatory research methodologies (outside of taught degrees).

E5 Experience of working with diverse communities, stakeholders or lived-experience contributors in research settings.

Desirable:

F1 Experience of participating in activities that translate research into impact to benefit the economy and wider society.

F2 Experience of contributing to the design and delivery of teaching and assessment in higher education or other relevant environments.

F3 Experience of research relating to gambling harms, public health, addiction, inequalities, poverty, consumer behaviour or closely related areas.

F4 Experience of conducting research across multiple sites, organisations or communities.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Christopher Bunn on Christopher.Bunn@glasgow.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week), and has funding for up to 2 years from start date in the first instance.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

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 September 2026 at 23:45