Research Assistant / Associate (Cultural Heritage Science)

Salary:

Research Associate £36,636 to £46,049 per annum, pro rata
Research Assistant £33,951 to £35,608 per annum, pro rata

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 16 July 2026

The Role

We are excited to launch this new opportunity for a research associate focused on Educator Access to join us in the school of History Classics and Archaeology to work on the next phase of the RICHeS funded project Transforming Access to Mediterranean Cultural Heritage Science Collections. 

You will join a research team across Newcastle University and the British School at Athens who in collaboration with the British Institute at Ankara and the British School at Rome have built a versatile and powerful heritage science collections management system for hosting and sharing previously unavailable heritage science collections. The next phase of the project will offer further institutions the opportunity to transform their digital humanities capabilities; structuring their previously unavailable digital data to make their collections available online efficiently for the benefit of researchers, schools and members of the public.

This role will facilitate up-take of the data housed within the Transforming Access infrastructure by schools, dovetailing with the new (machine readable) national curriculum which will be published in spring 2027. We are looking for candidates with experience of teaching, and education technology. Our aim is to maximise the access and impact for the benefit of substantial numbers of school teachers and students, developing the teaching potential of our infrastructure and collections of online heritage science data. The individual in the Educator Access role will work with the IT Lead to develop online educational tools and resources for maximising access to and the impact of the Transforming Access infrastructure. They will also work with the Project Lead and Project Manager to develop strategic collaborations with educators, curate and present flagship teaching resources, and contribute to the production of grant applications supporting the next phase of the project. 

The role is part time at 0.67FTE (25 hours per week), with applicants required to be based in the UK, we are open to conversations discussing flexible and hybrid working patterns. This is a fixed-term appointment ending on 31 March 2027. The expected start date is 1 September 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you would like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact Sophie Moore at View email address on jobs.ncl.ac.uk . To apply please provide a CV, contact details for two references and a cover letter detailing how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf . These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Newcastle University is committed to the responsible use of research metrics as part of our research culture and research strategy. We advocate for the transparent, appropriate, and inclusive use of metrics, guided by expert judgment, to support high-quality, impactful research that is open, collaborative and sustainable. Click here for our full policy statement on the Responsible use of Research Metrics. Click here for a self-study e-learning module on the Responsible Use of Research Metrics.

Find out more about the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences here:

Find out more about the project so far:

Contact for the post is View email address on jobs.ncl.ac.uk  

Key Accountabilities

Research Assistant
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s).
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project.
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books).
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.

Research Associate
• Develop strategic collaborations with educators to further the development of the digital infrastructure
• Contribute to the production and delivery of project dissemination strategy – focusing on avenues which would reach primary and secondary school teachers.
• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research.
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications.
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding. 

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience  

Essential Criteria 
• Knowledge of UK primary and/ or secondary education structures and curricula 
• Interest in machine readable data and AI powered learning
• Expertise in Education Technology 
• Knowledge of UK education structures, environment and policy 

Research Assistant
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy 
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems

In addition for Research Associate

• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem-solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity 
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team 
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

Research Assistant
• Honours degree in any field related to Cultural Heritage Science and or Education

In addition for Research Associate
• Awarded PhD in any field related to Cultural Heritage Science and or Education 

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29507