Research Assistant/Research Associate in the Department of Geography

Job description

Reporting to the project leader, Professor David Demeritt, the postholder will work as a part of a small research team exploring the regulation of veterinary medicines and anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in Argentina. The post holder will be responsible for contributing research assistance, in particular the design, administration, and analysis of a questionnaire surveys of farmers, as well as interviews with regulators and other stakeholders in Argentina to understand the regulatory system, and the preparation of final reports and publications. Fluency in Spanish is therefore essential, while knowledge of regulation, livestock production systems and veterinary medicine are desirable. The postholder may be required to travel and will be expected to work closely with other team members and research partners in Argentina and at the University of Bristol. The postholder will also be expected to be a full collaborator in authoring publications and other means for disseminating the research findings.

This post will be offered on an a full-time, fixed-term contract for 12 months from 1 March 2023. The latest possible end date for this contract is 31 March 2024 as that's when the funding ends.

Key responsibilities

• Design disseminate and analyse farm level surveys of pig and dairy farms in Argentina in collaboration with local partners in Argentina
• Conduct interviews and analyse policy documents to understand the regulatory system in Argentina
• Contribute to co-design of operational indicators and other policy advice to help regulators to target targeting AMR surveillance and regulatory enforcement activities according to risk
• Contribute to policy briefings and other project outputs

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.        Fluency in Spanish

2.        Strong inter-personal and written communication skills, in English and Spanish

3.        Postgraduate qualification in an appropriate discipline from the social sciences or veterinary & allied health sciences

4.        Professional experience in the broad field of ‘One Health’ concerned with governing human, animal, and environmental health

5.        PhD in appropriate discipline from the social sciences or veterinary & allied health sciences (Grade 6 only)

Desirable criteria

1.         Postgraduate knowledge or practical experience of surveys, interviews and other social research methods

2.         Experience of interdisciplinary collaborations with veterinarians and other scientists

3.         Knowledge and/or experience of risk regulation

4.         Knowledge of livestock production systems

5.         Knowledge of veterinary medicine and anti-microbial resistance

Please note for candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs, 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.