Research Assistant/Associate Creative PEC

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

The Role
The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) is recruiting a Research Assistant/Associate in "Creative Industries" based at either Newcastle University Business School or RSA House in London.

Are you an economist, or other quantitative social scientist, who is interested in the Creative Industries and would like to contribute to a research agenda that will shape policies at the national and international scale? Do you have the ability to understand, analyse and process data for academic and non-academic audiences? Are you interested in data science? We are looking for a committed individual who wants to make an impact on society while producing excellent quantitative academic research and develop a high level of expertise in a fast-growing field.

At Newcastle University, you will be joining the Creative PEC Research Unit, reporting to the Research Director, Professor of Macroeconomics, Giorgio Fazio, and working closely with Hasan Bakhshi, Professor of Economics of Creative Industries and the Creative PEC's Director. You will also be a member of the Economics Subject Group in the Business School.

Since its inception in 2018, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded Creative PEC has succeeded in bringing about a step change in the quantity and quality of evidence available to UK policymakers seeking to support growth in the Creative Industries. Funding for a further five years has been awarded and, since June 2023, the Creative PEC has been hosted by Newcastle University in partnership with the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in London. The Creative PEC continues to grow the evidence base, helping to shape and address industry and government priorities for the Creative Industries, including through the UK Government's forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

You will be joining the team at an exciting time as it positions itself vis-à-vis the new UK Government and local and combined mayoral authorities as the UK's lead authority on evidence-based policy for the Creative Industries. Newcastle University has made an ambitious commitment to making the Creative PEC one of the world's leading centres for the economics of Creative Industries. This commitment has translated into substantial investment that includes Professor Bakhshi's Chair and a Fellowship under the prestigious Newcastle University Academic Track (NUAcT) scheme, which also includes a PhD Studentship (see here for greater detail).

You will have a passion for using quantitative economic research to inform public policy and a desire to contribute to a research agenda that will shape Creative Industries policies at the national and international scale. This role will involve carrying out research on the Creative Industries and, specifically, on the public policies impacting on the sector nationally and internationally. You will be well versed in quantitative methods and tools and will be able to collect and analyse large primary and secondary data sets. You will also be adept at translating research for the benefit of non-academic stakeholders. Working closely with the Creative PEC's Policy Unit, you will assist the Creative PEC in managing its engagement activities with policy stakeholders. You will thrive on publishing research reports and articles in international peer-reviewed outlets.

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