Research Associate (LGBTI+ Youth Wellbeing Across Europe)

Are you an experienced and passionate qualitative researcher who would like to work on an interdisciplinary project on LGBTQI+ youth wellbeing and queer futures? We have an exciting opportunity to join us as a Research Associate to work with Dr Eleanor Wilkinson on an international CHANSE/NORFACE funded project ‘LGBTI+ youth wellbeing across Europe: Imagined futures in turbulent times’. The project focuses on the experiences of LGBTQI+ youth on the cusp of adulthood (aged 18-24), exploring how diverse groups of queer youth develop their identities and plan for their futures in the face of political, environmental and economic uncertainty. The project examines LGBTQI+ wellbeing across five countries: Estonia, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Your role will involve leading the UK fieldwork, primarily using creative and participatory methods. You will also be engaging with key stakeholders (LGBTQI+ charities and advocacy organizations) from the UK and Europe, and helping run academic workshops, and knowledge exchange events.

We are seeking candidates with a doctoral level qualification in a relevant disciplinary field, with a good knowledge of academic literature around LGBTQI+ lives (e.g. LGBTQI+ youth and life-course transitions, intersectionality, queer futures). We are also seeking someone who is actively committed to helping foster inclusive, collaborative, and caring research cultures. You will need an understanding of the ethical issues involved in conducting sensitive research with marginalised groups.

This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a vibrant and supportive interdisciplinary team of feminist and queer researchers. You would be working as part of an international research consortium with academics from Tallinn University (Professor Airi-Alina Allaste), Jagiellonian University (Dr Justyna Struzik), Stockholm University (Dr Malena Gustavson / Professor Fanny Ambjörnsson) and HES-SO Valais/ Wallis (Professor Christiane Carri). You will also be working alongside four other research associates, one from each national team. The project leaders are committed to supporting early career/ fixed-term staff, with mentorship and collaboration opportunities, international team workshops, work in progress writing support, possibilities for visiting placements with our international partners, and a training budget and time allocated for your own professional development.

Geography at the University of Sheffield focuses its research and teaching on questions of social justice and environmental change. As one of the oldest and largest Geography schools in the UK, we enjoy a long-standing international reputation for wide-ranging Geographical research led by staff who are passionate about exploring and teaching on some of the biggest issues facing the world today. Further information can be found at https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/geography-planning.

As a school we are well placed for the interdisciplinary approaches required for confronting urgent global issues. As well as being committed to dialogue across the range of the discipline, colleagues in the school play leading roles in the flagship University of Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food, the Institute for Global Sustainable Development, the Sheffield Urban Institute, and the Faculty Gender Research Network.

We are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities. The post is offered as a hybrid role, with the expectation that you will come to Sheffield at least monthly to engage in career development opportunities and to meet with the vibrant group of gender and sexuality researchers across our university.

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