Job Title: Project Officer: Review of Support for Interdisciplinary Research Funding Applications
Location: Newcastle University, Flexible working.
Pay Rate: £13.76 per hour including holiday pay
Advertising Dates: 18/09/24 – 01/10/24
The Jobs on Campus team in the Careers Service at Newcastle University are facilitating an exciting internship opportunity for 1 student to work with the Research Funding Development Team.
This internship is open to all Newcastle University students.
This internship is expected to be for a total of 60 hours, with a possibility of this being extended. You will work between 10 to 20 hours per week between November and February, with a break during the Christmas vacation. Working days and times are flexible.
Work will take place mostly on campus with some remote working available.
Interdisciplinary research is when there is significant interaction between two or more research disciplines and/or the research moves beyond established disciplinary foundations in applying or integrating research approaches from other disciplines. Interdisciplinary research is important to us at Newcastle University because we know that some of the biggest challenges facing society will be best tackled through interdisciplinary approaches.
This type of research can be complex. At Newcastle University, we are carrying out some work to make sure that we are supporting our researchers to achieve their full potential in the development of interdisciplinary research funding applications. Part of this work is a project in which we want to review a small sample (2 to 3) of interdisciplinary research grant applications. We will consider in detail how the application was developed and supported. This will allow us to learn what approaches work well and which are more or less suitable for particular types of grant application.
The aim of the project that the intern will be working on is to carry out a systematic review of how 2-3 pre-identified interdisciplinary research grant funding applications were prepared. We will use this work to inform future grant preparation and support practices.
Project objectives:
1. Work with those involved in each application to create a timeline of what was done and when, from planning to submission.
2. Discuss (in a structured way) each step of this timeline with those involved, finding out where things went well, or not. Discuss suggestions for improvements.
3. Discuss (in a structured way) the delivery of the funded research with the lead investigator. Relate this to the application timeline and process to establish whether research projects are ‘set for success’ using our current application timelines and activities.
4. Work with your supervisor to prepare a report on your findings, including analysis of qualitative and quantitative information gathered. Consider with your supervisor any recommendations to be made as a result of your findings.
5. Work with your supervisor to disseminate your findings as appropriate. This will include a range of audiences.
The intern will report to a specified member of the Research Funding Development Team, who will act as their supervisor. The intern will work with the Research Funding Development Team members (the team who are leading the project), colleagues across the University who have been involved in the preparation of the selected grant applications, and the lead investigators for the funded research being delivered.
More information about the Research Funding Development can be found here.
Key tasks:
- Gather information through surveys and structured in-person and/or online meetings
- Present this information logically and clearly as visual timelines
- Analyse the information gathered to establish key findings and messages
- Analysis will be of quantitative and qualitative information
- Contribute to preparation of a report on your findings and analysis
- Contribute to making recommendations as a result of your findings
- Work to disseminate your findings, for example through NUConnections.
What are we looking for?
Essential skills:
- Teamwork
- Initiative
- Time management
- Organisation and planning
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Analysis and presentation of information and findings
Desirable skills:
- An understanding of research
- Problem solving
- Administrative experience
Degree discipline
Students from all degree disciplines are welcome to apply.
To be eligible to apply you must be a Newcastle University undergraduate/postgraduate student registered on a programme of study throughout the 2024-25 academic year. For full details of eligibility see the Working on Campus website.
Reflecting on your experience:
Towards the end of your NCL Internship you will be required to complete a short reflection activity with your internship supervisor. This is designed to help you recognise the skills you have gained from the experience and how these skills can be evidenced in future applications, including applications for graduate roles.
Work done as part of this role can count towards an NCL+ Award which can help you reflect on the skills you have gained and how to use them when applying for jobs in the future; to find out more visit https://nusu.co.uk/skills/nclaward.
How to Apply
Apply online via the following link: NCL Internship: Project Officer – Review of Support for Interdisciplinary Research Funding Applications
Please reach out to Johanna Gascoigne-Owens, Head of Research Funding Development, for more information about this opportunity (johanna.gascoigne-owens@ncl.ac.uk).
Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains staff from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the community they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.
At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.
