Research Fellow in Spatial Inequality

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Contract type: Fixed term (for up to 10 months, 1^st October 2024- 31^st July 2025)

Are you an ambitious researcher with experience in quantitative data analysis and spatial inequalities? Do you want to contribute to impact focused research to reduce barriers to accessing greenspace? Do you want to develop your career at one of the UK's leading research-intensive universities?

The University of Leeds is one of the top 80 universities in the world. We have a truly global community, with more than 39,000 students from 170 different countries and over 9,000 staff of 100 different nationalities. Established in 1904, we have a strong tradition of academic excellence, reflected in first-class student education, along with world-leading research that has a real impact around the globe. 

We seek a Research Fellow in Spatial Inequalities with experience in developing reproducible methods using open data to support the delivery of an exciting new project focused on enhancing park safety for women and girls. This project, led by Dr Fran Pontin at the University of Leeds in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and Bradford Metropolitan District Council (BMDC), aims to integrate safety research into local decision-making processes by providing a quantitative assessment of park safety metrics. 

This project will build on the Safer Parks work between the University of Leeds and the West Yorkshire Mayor. Utilising open-source spatial data to identify areas in parks that promote safety for women and girls as well as highlight areas needing improvement.

Working with the project lead Dr Fran Pontin and co-investigator Dr Vikki Houlden in the School of Geography and co-investigator Dr Anna Barker in the School of Law, you will conduct novel research to develop and implement safety-promoting metrics for parks, culminating in the creation of an interactive dashboard map for evidence-based decision-making. Key tasks will include conducting literature reviews, scoping and evaluating open data, developing composite safety measures from park features, creating data visualizations, and engaging with stakeholders to ensure the project's success.

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr Fran, Pontin, Senior Research Data Scientist

F.L.Pontin@leeds.ac.uk 

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