Postdoctoral Research Associate in Visual and Material Medical Humanities

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 Institute for Medical Humanities and the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities 

The Institute for Medical Humanities seeks to appoint talented researchers and scholars to the role of Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with the Visual and Material Lab as part of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities. We welcome applications from those with research interests in the broad field of visual and material medical humanities.

These posts are part of an exciting expansion of medical humanities at Durham funded by Wellcome. The Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities (DRP-MH) aims to empower health and wellbeing researchers from different sectors and disciplines to co-develop new and experimental approaches to tackling health challenges. The Platform seeks to expand the research capacity of the medical humanities globally through creating space for experimentation and intellectual risk-taking and enabling large-scale collaborations with community, creative, health and voluntary sector organisations. Platform researchers come from a wide range of disciplines including Literary Studies, Psychology, Modern Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, History, Sport and Exercise Science, Education and Sociology. The DRP-MH supports the Institute’s vision to improve human health through research on hidden experience.

The Visual and Material Lab

e.recruitment@durham.ac.ukThe Visual and Material Lab looks to the new research questions, innovative methodological approaches and alternative perspectives on human health that are generated when visual and material culture is taken seriously as a starting point. 

Extending the visual turn taken by medical humanities in the last decade, the Lab aims to build critical mass in an emerging field; identify, experiment with, assess and document the new research methods raised by foregrounding visual and material approaches; and develop a strategic and sustainable vision for future research and practice in the visual and material medical humanities.

We understand visual and material to refer to both artefacts (including but not limited to images, objects and artworks) and practices (for example, techniques for rendering information or experience in visual form), rather than to a specific set of disciplinary methods. While the Lab’s current focus is contemporary art practice as a medical humanities research method, we are keen to expand the remit of the lab beyond art history and art practice, and to engage with visually and materially orientated research methods from a diverse range of disciplines.

Applications are invited for two Postdoctoral Research Associates in Visual and Material Medical Humanities.

The post holder will be responsible for a) designing and conducting an original programme of individual research that aligns with the aims and objectives of the Visual and Material Lab and b) working with the Lab leader and other members of the Lab team to devise and deliver activities and outputs that extend the profile of visual and material methods in relation to medical humanities research.

We welcome applications from researchers in a range of disciplines, including, but not limited to art and creative practice-based research; art history and visual and material culture; film and media studies; visual and material history; visual anthropology and other social science disciplines with a focus on visual and material media and methods. We would be particularly interested in hearing from applicants working on race and/or neurodiversity, and applicants whose research engages contexts beyond English-speaking cultures and/or the global North.

Post-holders will be expected to contribute to Lab activities which may include but are not limited to: regular participation in Lab meetings, workshops and other events; collaboration in methodological innovation with interdisciplinary and cross-sector partners through a range of modalities; the design and delivery of pilot and proof-of-concept studies; and taking shared responsibility for sustaining a flourishing research culture in the Lab and Platform more broadly. Post holders will also be expected and supported to collaborate with other Labs, Sites, and Researchers across the Platform. Regular participation (in-person as well as virtual) at Site, Lab and Platform activities, as agreed with the Line Manager is essential.

These roles offer an exciting opportunity to make an important contribution to the development of research and methodological innovation within the Platform, while allowing excellent opportunities for career development in an exciting and progressive institution. Working day-to-day in the IMH and the Platform, you will also be based in a suitable academic Department, such as the School of Modern Languages and Cultures or Department of History in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities; the Departments of Archaeology, Anthropology, or Sociology in the Faculty of Social Science.

All staff employed in the Platform have dedicated time for professional development and can access a wealth of existing and bespoke training opportunities in consultation with Lab Leads. 

For more information, please visit our Institute and Platform pages at  https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/medical-humanities/

https://medhumsplatform.org/

https://medhumsplatform.org/labs/visual-and-material/

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Visual and Material Medical Humanities

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the broad field of visual and material medical humanities, whilst fully engaging in the services, citizenship and values of the Platform, Institute, and University.  The University provides a working, research and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

Key responsibilities:

• To plan and carry out a programme of individual and collaborative research activity under the direction of the Lab Lead.
• To work with the Lab Lead and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify new areas for research, develop innovative research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To produce high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Lab Lead. Outputs might also include (for example) digital and visual media, exhibitions and performances.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Lab Lead 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 contribute to enhancing the quality of the research culture in the Site, Platform and wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the Institute and wider discipline.
• To further the development of visual and material medical humanities as a flourishing sub-field of scholarship and practice.

The posts are fixed term for three years. Funding is from the Discovery Research Platform.

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 1/09/2025

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: 

•    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.  
•    The University closes between Christmas and New Year. 
•    We offer a generous pension scheme, 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 parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
•    There is 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. 
•    Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
•    On site nursery is available plus access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
•    Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
•    The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
•    Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions. 
•    A salary sacrifice scheme is 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 

Dr. Fiona Johnstone, Assistant Professor in Visual Medical Humanities and Lab Lead, Visual and Material Lab. Email: fiona.r.johnstone@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 

e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

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

·        A covering letter of up to 2 pages which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out above. 

·        A personal research plan of up to 2 pages, setting out the programme of research activities that you would conduct in this role.

Next Steps 

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person for interview

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

1.     A good first degree in a subject related to the medical humanities.

2.     A PhD (or be close to submission) on a topic that relates to visual and material medical humanities. The PhD must have been submitted at the point of application, but may still be under examination.

Experience

  3. Experience in conducting high quality academic research.

  4. Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals, edited volumes and other scholarly publications. For practice-based research, material outputs may also include digital or visual media, exhibitions, and performances.

 5. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national and international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.

Skills

      6.     Ability to use suitable research methods to produce high-quality research outputs.

7. Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.

8. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.

9. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable Criteria 

Experience

10. Demonstrable interest and/or experience in conducting research on visual and material culture and/or mobilising visual and material research methods in relation to medical humanities.

11. Interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration: previous experience working across disciplines and/or sectors.

12. Strong publication record, commensurate with career stage.

13. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.

14. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.  

Skills