Research Assistant/Associate: Hispanic/Film Studies

Salary:
Research Assistant: £31,396 to £32,982 per annum
Research Associate: £33,966 to £44,263 per annum
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 24 March 2024
The Role
The School of Modern Languages seeks to appoint a Research Assistant/ Associate to work on an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded (AHRC) Research, Development, and Engagement Fellowship (2024-26) entitled (De)colonial Ecologies in 21st-century insular Hispanic Caribbean film.
This project investigates 21st-century Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican film in order to better understand the relationship between coloniality and ecology, asking to what extent, and in what ways, film can build decolonial ecologies. Using close film analysis, qualitative interviews, participant observation, and participatory action research, the project will illuminate how film – including production and exhibition practices – is and can be used to respond to ecological challenges in a way that also addresses (post)colonial inequalities and injustices in the insular Hispanic Caribbean. Research findings will be presented in project webpages featuring blog posts, a video essay, and a public advisory document; academic publications; a short film; and public presentations at a conference and a film festival.
With support from the Principal Investigator, the Research Assistant/ Associate will conduct research on Puerto Rican films made about Hurricane Maria and its aftermath. This will involve fieldwork in Puerto Rico, where they will carry out qualitative interviews with directors, and support the Principal Investigator in running a workshop with filmmakers and community organisations on film as a decolonial and ecological practice. They will also disseminate the findings of their research via a peer-reviewed journal article; in academic settings, e.g. at a conference; and to the wider public, e.g. in blog posts on the project webpages.
The post is suitable for applicants with an interest in the insular Hispanic Caribbean, environmental humanities or ecomedia, community filmmaking, or decolonial art and activism. Applicants should be skilled in qualitative research, and have knowledge of research ethics and of the Impact agenda. Prior experience of working with or carrying out research alongside non-academic stakeholders, e.g. filmmakers, activists, environmental organisations, community groups, or NGOs in Latin America or the Caribbean would be an advantage. The post requires travel to Puerto Rico for fieldwork and networking purposes. Strong written and spoken Spanish is essential.
The nature of the role is such that remote working from within the UK may be possible for the majority of the post-holder’s time, subject to agreement.
For informal enquiries, please contact the project lead, Dr Dunja Fehimović at
The post is full time, fixed term for 9 months (October 2024 - June 2025)
As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of . These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.
Key Accountabilities

• Carry out research, including literature review and film analysis, and fieldwork, including qualitative interviews
• Support the Principal Investigator in designing and running a workshop on film as decolonial and/or ecological practice with filmmakers and community organisations
• Author a research article for a peer-reviewed journal
• Contribute to the articulation and dissemination of key project findings through relevant events and platforms, including conferences and the project’s webpages
• Meet the Principal Investigator regularly to plan and collaborate on and discuss the above, and to organise workload

The Person (Essential)
Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of ethical issues in academic research and of the Impact agenda

• Ability to work flexibly and co-operatively with others, but also to work independently
• Ability to prioritise key tasks, meet deadlines, and manage conflicting priorities
• Experience of carrying out research within agreed timelines and meeting project milestones
• IT literacy, including keeping accurate data / records; ability to use a full range of applications in Office 365
• Very strong speaking and academic-writing skills in English
• Strong written and spoken Spanish

Desirable

• Proven awareness of Caribbean – especially Puerto Rican – culture, history, and/or society.
• Ability to conduct detailed, comparative analysis of cultural artefacts, e.g. films.
• Experience of conducting qualitative interviews.
• Experience of working with or carrying out research alongside non-academic stakeholders, e.g. community groups, filmmakers, or artists.
• Experience with event planning and management.
• Experience of producing research publications to an acceptable academic standard.
• Experience of developing webpages and blogs for academic purposes.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; ability and willingness to communicate research at national conferences, to fellow academics in other disciplines, and to non-academic stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build trust with collaborating individuals and groups
• The ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
• Good planning, organisational, and time management skills

Qualifications

• Assistant Level - an undergraduate degree
• Associate Level - PhD or PhD-equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g. Latin American Studies, Spanish, film studies, environmental humanities, or cultural studies)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a silver award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 26624