Research Associate

Salary:

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £25,866 to £27,518, with potential progression once in post to £30,820. Grade: 4

Hours:

Part Time (18.75 working hours per week

Contract Type:

Fixed Term contract up to August 2025

Two positions available.

The University of Birmingham is seeking to hire two part-time Research Assistants (0.5) for a year starting 1 October 2024 or soon after. The Postholders will work on the Horizon Europe/UKRI funded project “Improving the Living and Labour Conditions of Irregularised Migrant Households in Europe” (I-CLAIM) led by Professor Nando Sigona. They will conduct interviews and observations in Birmingham and the West Midlands, focusing on the experience of migrants with no or precarious legal status working either in the food and goods delivery sector or cleaning, care, and domestic work sector. The ideal candidates will have strong connections with migrants employed in these sectors, direct experience and knowledge of these sectors and of the UK’s immigration regime. Their responsibilities will include contributing to designing and implementing fieldwork activities, conducting interviews and ethnographic observations, and participating in the analysis and dissemination of research findings.

The I-CLAIM project studies the living and working conditions of migrants with no or precarious legal status in six European countries. It examines the operation of specific labour sectors employing migrants with uncertain legal status and investigates the impact of immigration status on migrant workers and their families. More information about the I-CLAIM project is available at www.i-claim.eu

Role Summary

• Recruit research participants with no or precarious legal status working in the food and goods delivery sector or cleaning, care, and domestic work sector, and conduct interviews and observations with them
• Contribute to the analysis of data.
• Contribute to publication and dissemination of research findings
• Participate in project activities and meetings relevant to the completion of core tasks. 

Main Duties

• Contribute to data collection and analysis, including recruitment of research participants and mapping of local stakeholders
• Assist in designing fieldwork activities, and research tools 
• Conduct interviews under the supervision of the research lead and in coordination with the research team.
• Participate in regular debriefing sessions and team meetings to discuss research progress and address issues or concerns related to fieldwork activities.
• Conduct ethnographic observation of living and working conditions of migrants with no or precarious legal status in the food and goods delivery sector and/or cleaning, care, and domestic work sector. 
• Contribute to the analysis of data and provide input for policy recommendations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

Essential characteristics

• In-depth knowledge of at least one of the labour sectors covered by the I-CLAIM research. 
• Direct knowledge of migrant communities with precarious or no immigration status who work or have worked in these sectors.
• Proficiency in English. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• Excellent time management and communication skills.

Informal enquiries to Professor Nando Sigona (n.sigona@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 Online button:

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