Research Assistant in Impact Translation Project

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Working time: Variable- 313 hours to be worked flexibly

Post type: Hourly/Variable

Contract type: Fixed term (from 1^st March to 31^st August 2025 to complete a specific task or time limited work)

Interview date: Tuesday 11^th February 2025

Are you a PhD student or an early career researcher looking for a challenge? Do you have a background in subtitling, audiovisual translation or translation studies? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?

You will work with Dr Sara Ramos Pinto (PI, University of Leeds) and Dr Carol O’Sullivan (Co-I, University of Bristol) to support, and collaborate on the following research project.

Project: From Lab to Screen: a response to AI’s threat to the media localisation industry

This project explores how research into the reception of subtitles by viewers can be ‘translated’ for non-academic stakeholders in ways that will impact industry subtitling practice. Media localisation companies are under increasing pressure from clients to adopt automated processes which negatively affect subtitling quality and audience satisfaction. Access to the latest research is essential to improving subtitling quality and to providing professionals with empirical data to argue for the need and benefits of human subtitling with their clients. This proposal addresses an unmet need for complex research data on subtitling to be translated into an easy-to-understand format that will enable the information to be adopted and implemented by industry professionals. The project goal is to produce three industry-facing, user-friendly research reports to be made publicly available.

With a relevant degree and experience of research in audiovisual translation or closely related fields, you will work with the two lead academics in the project and the representatives of the three industry partners in the project. You will not be conducting new research. You will possess excellent analytical and writing skills and the ability to summarise relevant information from research publications. The ability to work alone or as part of a team and to work with both academics and non-academics are essential.

The post-holder will work 313 hours to be worked flexibly from 1 March to 31 August 2025 (average 12 hours per week). Specific periods of work will be determined by the Line Manager in accordance with the needs of the project.

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

Sara Ramos Pinto, Associate Professor in Translation Studies (PI)

Email: s.ramospinto@leeds.ac.uk 

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