As part of a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) project hosted by the Institute of Development Studies and in collaboration with the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) in Jordan, Ettijahat – Independent Culture in Syria, and the University of Duhok in Northern Iraq and KRI, we are looking for researchers aged between 18 and 35 in each of these locations to contribute to a new research programme exploring how people’s heritages might contribute to peace and wellbeing for communities in the Middle East.
The idea behind the project is to investigate how young people within these contexts are currently encountering, engaging with and using their heritages and whether and how this helps them in their everyday lives, as well as any challenges they face in this. We are especially interested to understand how heritage makes peoples feel, by exploring the changes and shifts that may occur at an emotional and physical level through: participating in heritage practices for example festivals, foods, or music etc.; visiting heritage sites or spaces, such as museums, natural landscapes, or religious buildings; or, making or using heritage objects including clothing and crafts among others. We will also look into the potential of using heritage to share and engage across difference. To do this, we will work together to review and develop the project objectives, questions and methods, centring non-hierarchical collaboration and teamwork to further question how the ways in which we also undertake research might contribute to peace and trust.
What you will be doing:
As a researcher on the project the primary activities and expectations for your role are to:
Actively contribute to different stages of the research project cycle, this may include feeding into the project design, contributing to the analysis of research and thematic coding (researchers will be trained and supported as necessary to undertake this), and helping to write and/or produce outputs such as publications, presentations, and creative works to communicate the research and our findings.
Lead or assist in organising participatory workshops with young people from diverse communities to understand the value and uses of heritage for them and how they feel when engaging with/in it, and to document key takeaways and synthesise the information gathered during these workshops.
Undertake regular practice to capture, reflect on and share through written, verbal and/or creative outputs your own engagements with heritages and the felt sensations elicited in response to this. This will include participating in ongoing meetings and learning circles, committing to be part of the project team, transcribing, organising and managing data, and handling administrative tasks.
What we are looking for:
We seek candidates who are highly motivated by and interested in the topic of heritage and who have a willingness to learn and experiment with new approaches and methodologies.
We particularly encourage candidates who can contribute new and creative approaches and so may not have had formal training or qualifications.
The ideal candidates will possess inquisitiveness, respect and openness to both sharing about their own processes and experiences and providing critical feedback on what is and is not working within the project. Attention to detail and consistency in diligence are crucial, as is the ability to be discerning and reflective. We are looking for those with the ability to draw out significant details amidst noise and who are able to view situations through different lenses
We are also looking for a team and consequently we acknowledge that each candidate will bring their own set of strengths to the table. With that in mind here a list of qualities we are looking for in a team but not necessarily within a single individual.
What you might bring:
- Passion and interest in heritage and working with different communities (essential)
- Ability to adhere to high research ethics and standards (essential)
- Respect for others’ opinions, beliefs and contributions (essential)
- Teamwork (essential)
- Good English speaking and listening skills (desirable but some exceptions may be made)
- Critical thinking
- Observation
- Ability to connect and engage through different mediums
- Problem solving
- Adaptability
- Organisation
- Conflict resolution
- Networking skills
What we can offer:
Researchers on the project will be employed for a period of 3.5 years, for up to 10 days per month preferably 2/3 days per week on a salary of GBP70 (approximately USD90) per day (equivalent to GBP8,400 / USD10,680 per year). With an additional allowance of GBP15 (approx. USD20) per month for phone or internet costs.
The role is designed to be flexible to fit around other potential work, care or study commitments. Although there will be some in-person and online meetings or events that researchers will need to attend (including online learning circles at least every 2 weeks, in-person community workshops once per month and international workshops once per year), we are committed to supporting individual needs regarding these so please let us know if you would require any specific accessibility or travel arrangements.
Within the project there will be opportunities to shape the research and role according to your interests and to undertake tasks that feed into your career aspirations, wherever these might lie. Formal and informal trainings will be offered in research methods, communications, qualitative data analysis (including thematic coding), and writing and publishing for different audiences including policymakers, development practitioners and academics. This may include publishing in academic journals, producing creative or artistic outputs and/or presenting at seminars and round tables for which attribution including co-authorship will be given.
We strongly encourage applications from different social components.
Please complete the application form in English and email to: [email protected] by 30/08/2024.
