Research Fellow (Qualitative)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to January 2026

Role Summary

We are seeking a dedicated and motivated Research Fellow to join our team and contribute to the qualitative components of a research project on the perceived and actual exposure of global trade hubs to illicit financial flows through their participation in international smuggling networks. The Research Fellow will play a crucial role in supporting the project at all stages, including literature review, data collection, analysis of interview transcripts, writing up the research manuscript, and contribute to the development of a ‘best practice’ toolkit aimed at supporting business and professional practitioners.

Main Duties

• Assist in the design and development of interview protocols and data collection materials.
• Recruit and schedule participants for interviews, ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines and research protocols.
• Conduct or assist in the conducting of semi-structured interviews with participants using appropriate qualitative research techniques and methods.
• Manage the transcription and organisation of interview data accurately and efficiently.
• Assist in the analysis of interview transcripts using qualitative data analysis software or manual coding methods.
• Collaborate with the research team to identify emerging themes, patterns, and insights from the data.
• Assist in organising and running dissemination-related events such as workshops and symposia. 
• Contribute to the preparation of research outputs, including research papers, best practice guides, data summaries, and training curricula.
• Maintain organized records of research activities, including participant consent forms, interview transcripts, and data analysis files.
• Participate in regular team meetings and provide updates on project progress.

Person Specification

• PhD (or near to completion) in a relevant field within the social sciences (e.g., political science, international relations, accounting, management, anthropology, or sociology)
• Prior experience conducting qualitative research, including interviewing and data analysis.
• Experience in working with mixed methods of research is desirable.
• Familiarity with qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or similar.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to establish rapport with research participants.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Experience conducting literature reviews using relevant academic databases.
• Knowledge of research ethics and participant protection guidelines.
• Proficiency in using mainstream applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to produce professional documents such as reports and presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and manage competing priorities effectively.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing project needs and timelines.
• Previous experience working on research projects related to social sciences or related fields is desirable.

Informal enquires can be made to Dr Mayya Konovalova, email: m.konovalova@bham.ac.uk or Dr Adam Nix, email: a.nix@bham.ac.uk. 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply button above.

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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