Public health measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus are continuously being translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups.  

By engaging experiences of the minority group of men who have sex with men (MSM), the AHRC funded ‘ Public Health Messaging during the COVID Pandemic: Dating App Usage and Sexual Wellbeing among Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM)’  will provide rapid evidence on the approaches and responses to these messages in relation to using digital platforms to connect for sexual purposes.

Organisations have variously advised MSM to practice sexual abstinence, or. engage in harm reduction strategies including digitally mediated sexual encounter or wearing masks and avoiding the exchange of saliva during sex. We must understand MSM’s reception of these messages in order to impact upon policy and practice for this group, shed light on what to look for where minorities are concerned in relation to COVID, and provide learning about COVID public health messaging that will benefit the general population.

King’s College, London in collaboration with the University of Salford and Birmingham City University have been awarded funds to investigate this area through the UKRI’s Covid Response Call and via the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

This research associate post is intended to support this project.  Knowledge and experience of research related to gender and sexuality in a digital contexts are expected of applicants. Additional knowledge and experience of digital methods, survey methods, or discourse analysis of media texts is desirable.

This post will be offered on a part-time 45% FTE, fixed term contract for 7 months.

Key responsibilities

The Research Assistant will work with and report to the Principal Investigator of the Project. 

The post-holder will be required to support the project and its partnerships. The post-holder will be expected to undertake fieldwork, conduct secondary analysis and publish research findings in a variety of outlets both academic and non-academic.  

To provide support to the investigators to complete the project.

• To assist with the management of the research project.
• To manage, and undertake primary and secondary data collection and analysis activities as required.
• To develop partnerships with a range of academic, international, community and industry stakeholders as relevant to the project.
• To work across disciplines in the development and delivery of the project with internal and external partners as necessary
• To undertake comprehensive reviews of literature as required.
• To present the findings from research activities at events, seminars and conferences where required.
• To publish research findings in high-quality academic and non-academic outputs
• Perform any other duties as may be required from time to time by the project investigators.
• To assist in the development of the King’s College, London’s international profile

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge and experience 

Essential criteria 

1. An arts, humanities or social sciences based PhD in an area related to Digital Society and/or gender and sexuality. 

2. Experience of undertaking high quality research in an academic 

3. Experience of engaging with research evaluation 

4. Experience of interdisciplinary research 

5. Knowledge of Arts, Humanities or Social Science based research into gender and sexuality in a digital context 

6. Knowledge of working with discourse analysis of media texts.

7. An ability to write academic and non-academic outputs for a variety of audiences in a clear and accessible style 

8. An ability to work in a team in an open, sharing manner & to engage in independent working for periods at a time 

9. The ability to verbally present and engage with a variety of audiences in a clear and accessible manner. 

10. Project management skills 

11. Capability and willingness to undertake administrative tasks necessary for the effective management of the project. 

Desirable criteria 

1. Experience of working with external partners in relation to research projects 

2. Knowledge of academic concepts and theory relating to digital social science and/or digital methods 

3. Knowledge of working with large scale qualitative data sets or survey methods

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.