Thanks to Kimberly Fisher
Deadline: 2 July 2014
The Department of Sociology, Centre for Time Use Research, is seeking to appoint
2 Post-doctoral researchers with a strong grasp of quantitative methods, and a
background in one or more of Sociology, Economics or related disciplines. The
Fellows will be part of a large and vibrant research group whose remit includes
both resource provision and academic research in the field of time use.
The successful candidate will be working with Professors Jonathan Gershuny and
Oriel Sullivan and the CTUR team, undertaking both joint and independent
research under the aegis of the SCaEL project, (visit
http://www.timeuse.org/research/social-change); publishing in leading
peer-reviewed journals; and contributing to the Centre’s other data gathering,
management and analysis activities. The Fellows will have the opportunity to
contribute to all aspects of the project from research design to the
dissemination of results to academics, policy makers and the public.
The successful candidates will provide research expertise and advanced data
management and analysis skills to the Centre. Experience in the use of advanced
statistical analysis packages is essential.
There are 2 positions available. The appointments will be on the University’s
salary grade 7, currently £29,541 - £36,298 per annum, and are available as
full time appointments for a period of 4 years, to begin as soon as possible.
Candidates will be eligible for consideration for appointments to
non-stipendiary research fellowships in Nuffield and other colleges.
Applications, including a covering letter, CV and the names of three Referees
should be submitted by 12.00 noon on 02/07/2014, using the University’s online
system
With best wishes,
Jane Greig
Departmental Secretary
Department of Sociology
Manor Road
Oxford
OX1 3UQ
Tel: 01865 281740
Fax: 01865 286171
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: www.sociology.ox.ac.uk
-----
Job description and selection criteria
Job title Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Time Use Research
Division Social Sciences
Department Sociology
Location Manor Road Building, Manor Road, Oxford
Grade and salary Grade 7: £29,837 - £36,661 per annum
Hours Full time (37.5 per week)
Contract type Fixed term
Reporting to
Principle Investigator/Programme Director
Vacancy reference 113448
Closing date Midday (UK time) on Wednesday 2nd July 2014
Introduction
The University
The University of Oxford is a complex and stimulating organisation, which
enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence in
research and teaching. It employs over 10,000 staff and has a student
population of over 21,000.
Most staff are directly appointed and managed by one of the University’s 130
departments or other units within a highly devolved operational structure -
this includes 5,900 ‘academic-related’ staff (postgraduate research, computing,
senior library, and administrative staff) and 2,820 ‘support’ staff (including
clerical, library, technical, and manual staff). There are also over 1,600
academic staff (professors, readers, lecturers), whose appointments are in the
main overseen by a combination of broader divisional and local faculty
board/departmental structures. Academics are generally all also employed by one
of the 38 constituent colleges of the University as well as by the central
University itself.
Our annual income in 2010/11 was £919.6m. Oxford is one of Europe's most
innovative and entrepreneurial universities: income from external research
contracts exceeds £376m p.a., and more than 70 spin-off companies have been
created.
For more information please visit www.ox.ac.uk
Social Sciences Division
Social Sciences is one of four academic Divisions in the University, each with
considerable devolved budgetary and financial authority; and responsibility for
providing a broad strategic focus across its constituent disciplines. Thirteen
departments, one faculty, and three cross-divisional research units come under
the aegis of the division which spans the full range of social science
disciplines with links into the humanities and physical sciences (including
Law, Management, Economics, Politics and International Relations, Sociology,
Social Policy, Area Studies, Development Studies, Education, Anthropology,
Archaeology, Geography, Public Policy). There are over 700 academic staff,
2,700 graduate students (postgraduate taught and postgraduate research), and
1900 undergraduates working and studying in the division.
The division is established as a world-leading centre for research in the
social sciences and regularly sits at the highest levels of international
league tables of one form or another. It is the largest grouping of social
science disciplines in the UK and it is also home to several of Oxford’s most
widely recognised teaching programmes, such as PPE, the BCL, the MPhils in
International Relations, in Economics, and in Development Studies, and the
nationally regarded PGCE. We believe that excellence in teaching and research
is synergistic and remain committed to sustaining and developing the high
quality of our activities in both these areas. Our departments are committed to
research which develops a greater understanding of all aspects of society, from
the impact of political, legal and economic systems on social and economic
welfare to human rights and security. That research is disseminated through
innovative graduate programmes and enhances undergraduate courses.
For more information please visit: http://www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/
The Department of Sociology
Sociology at Oxford has a strong analytical, empirical and comparative
orientation. Our focus is on developing and testing theories that engage with
real world puzzles and problems. Particular strengths include the statistical
analysis of social surveys, collection, management and analysis of complex
datasets (eg household panel studies, time-use diaries), the development of
rational choice theory, micro-social experiments and simulation studies.
The Department of Sociology is primarily a graduate institution (though we also
teach undergraduate papers for degrees in Human Sciences, in Philosophy,
Politics, and Economics, and in History and Politics). Each year we accept
approximately 30 students on its MSc and MPhil taught courses (around 25% of
whom have full or partial scholarships or bursaries), many of whom continue to
study for DPhil degrees. We also accept some qualified students (with Masters
degrees from comparable institutions) directly into the DPhil research
programme, which has at any point in time around 80 students.
Sociology at Oxford has a distinguished history. Illustrious names from the past
include Colin Crouch, Jean Floud, Michael Hechter, Steven Lukes, Clyde Mitchell
and Frank Parkin. Under A.H. Halsey and John Goldthorpe, Oxford developed a
reputation for the conduct and analysis of large-scale social surveys, most
notably the national Social Mobility study of 1972, which has become a classic
in its field. Oxford was also the home of other important research programmes,
including the CASMIN project and the British Election Studies. The present
Department builds on this tradition of empirical social research. It contains
six research centres.
• Oxford Network for Social Inequality Research
• Centre for Time Use Research
• Extra-legal Governance Institute
• Oxford Population Centre
• Centre for Research into Elections and Social Trends
• Centre for the Analysis of Social Networks
For more information please visit: http://www.sociology.ox.ac.uk/
The Centre for Time Use Research (CTUR)
The CTUR’s aim is to arrive at a well-coordinated scientific approach to the
understanding of time allocation, founded on the very best historical and
cross-national comparative evidence. We seek innovative models of the
determinants of the balances among the various sorts of work and leisure, based
on observations of how representative samples of people spend their time, and
leading to new ways of understanding social change
The CTUR has a time-use research-resource programme, funded by the UK Economic
and Social Research Council (ESRC), as well as the US National Institutes of
Health and other agencies, collecting new time diary sample survey materials,
and harmonising both recent and historical time diary surveys from across the
world. The research materials it produces—both the Multinational Time Use
Study (MTUS), and the other resources found via www.timeuse.org—are in turn
made freely available to the worldwide research community.
It also pursues its own research programme, funded by both the ESRC and the
European Research Council (ERC), using these data resources, developing new
data collection methods and new applications for time use data both within the
social sciences and in health and environmental research. The various projects
include:
ESRC ‘Collecting New Time Use Resources’ ((CNTUR: January 2014-March 2019)
1.1 Conducting a new UK national time diary study compliant with the Eurostat
Harmonised European Time Use Study (HETUS) guidelines for time diary studies.
The study, conducted by the National Centre for Social Research, will collect
approximately 20,000 diary days.
1.2 Developing and piloting advanced diary instruments, exploring innovative
data collection technologies such as smart-phone apps, and collecting a new
web-based time diary module as part of a panel study conducted in eight
European countries.
1.3 Projects combining diaries and technical instrumentation contributing to
new medical, public health and environmental application for diary data.
1.4 Developing the Multinational Time Use Study, extending its geographical and
its historical range, and attaching additional information to enable new
research in the sphere of health and wellbeing, and environmental modelling
1.5 Improving the time use documentation and resources available online at the
www.timeuse.org website and also collaborating with the University of Maryland
Centre for Population Studies in developing an “MTUS-X” online application.
ERC: ‘Social Change and Everyday Life’ (SCaEL: April 2014-March 2019)
2.1 Micro studies. CTUR will develop methods to investigate how different sorts
of people sequence activities of paid and unpaid work and leisure, and how these
sequences (and the “time budgets” they produce) vary among countries with
different regulatory policies (“regimes”), leading to cross-national
differences in divisions of labour and leisure within households.
2 2 Macro studies We aim to develop new stratification measures based on time
in addition to money, using comparative time-budget data. Distributions of
income are associated with particular distributions of paid and unpaid work-
and leisure-time. So time diaries can be used as the basis of conceptually and
empirically integrated national accounts of wellbeing to complement economic
measures such as GNP.
2.3 Conceptual developments. CTUR research shows that observed participation
frequencies from diaries can be used to calibrate questionnaire items about
longer-term time use patterns, contributing to the understanding of embodied
capital formation. We will use the new evidence we collect from diaries with
continuous enjoyment measures to look at the affective consequences of activity
sequences and density (multiple simultaneous activities), contributing to
research on well-being and happiness.
CTUR Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Job description
Overview of the role
The Department Sociology, Centre for Time Use Research is seeking to appoint 2
Post-doctoral researchers with a strong grasp of quantitative methods, and a
background in one or more of Sociology, Economics or related disciplines. The
Fellows will be part of a large and vibrant research group whose remit includes
both resource provision and academic research in the field of time use. The
duties of the successful applicants will be primarily concerned with the
research projects listed under 2.1-2.3 above.
Applicants should have a completed doctorate in a topic directly relevant to the
research programme of CTUR - preferably, though not necessarily, based on time
use diary data - and a proven ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals. The
main duties of the post will be: undertaking both joint and independent
research under the aegis of the SCaEL project, (visit
http://www.timeuse.org/research/social-change); publishing in leading
peer-reviewed journals; and contributing to the Centre’s other data gathering,
management and analysis activities. The Fellows will have the opportunity to
contribute to all aspects of the project from research design to the
dissemination of results to academics, policy makers and the public.
The successful candidates will provide research expertise and advanced data
management and analysis skills to the Centre. Experience in the use of advanced
statistical analysis packages is essential.
There are 2 positions available. The appointments will be on the University’s
salary grade 7, currently £29,837 - £36,661 per annum, and are available as
full time appointments for a period of 4 years, to begin as soon as possible.
Candidates will be eligible for consideration for appointments to
non-stipendiary research fellowships in Nuffield and other colleges.
Responsibilities/duties
The duties of the Post-Doctoral Research Fellows include:
1. To undertake independent and joint research within the context of the CTUR
research programme;
2. To manage own academic research and administrative activities. This
involves small scale project management, to co-ordinate multiple aspects of
work to meet deadlines;
3. To contribute to data analysis using a range of estimation techniques and
statistical models, adapting existing methodologies as appropriate;
4. To act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group
on methodologies and procedures;
5. To manage quantitative data from a variety of sources; to calculate and
develop new measures as appropriate;
6. To contribute to writing scholarly papers, reports, policy papers and grant
applications;
7. To present papers at conference or public meetings and to participate in the
dissemination of the project’s results to academics, policy makers and the
public;
8. To develop ideas for generating research income, and present detailed
research proposals to senior researchers;
9. To provide guidance to junior members of the research group including
research assistants, PhD students, and/or project volunteers;
10. To contribute to the overall work of the Centre and its administration as
required by the CTUR Directors.
Selection criteria
Candidates will be judged on the basis of the following criteria and should
ensure that their covering letter shows how they meet the criteria in their own
words.
Essential
• A completed doctorate in Sociology, Economics or related disciplines.
• Advanced skills in research design and quantitative analysis in areas relevant
to the CTUR programme, as evidenced in training and work to date;
• A proven publication record;
• Skills in data management as evidenced in training and work to date;
• A willingness and ability to contribute to the overall work of the Centre
including grant applications, the dissemination of project results and the
administration of the project;
• Excellent organisational, verbal and written communication and interpersonal
skills.
Desirable
• Knowledge of, and experience in, a range of social science data collection
techniques.
• Skills in the preparation of large-scale data for distribution and
dissemination to the research community.
University Terms and Conditions
The appointment will be fixed term for four years owing to fixed-term funding.
The appointment will be made on the University’s Grade 7 salary scale,
currently £29,837 - £36,661 per annum. The post holder will receive an annual
increment on 1st October every year.
The appointment will be subject to an initial probationary period of six months
during which the post holder’s performance will be reviewed.
The post holder will be eligible to join the Universities Superannuation Scheme
(USS). Subject to the Statement of Pensions Policy, the appointee will be
deemed to be in membership of the above pension scheme until such time as he or
she gives notice in writing to exercise the right not to be a member of the
scheme.
The post carries with it an annual leave entitlement of 38 days (including 8
bank holidays and any fixed days when the Department is closed) to be taken by
arrangement with the Head of Department and in accordance with the operational
needs of the Department.
The Department will provide office space and IT and other facilities.
Recruitment Monitoring: This post is subject to recruitment monitoring to
ensure that the selection process is consistent with the law and with the
University’s Equal Opportunity Policy and Code of Practice.
Equality of opportunity: The policy and practice of the University of Oxford
require that all staff are offered equal opportunities within employment and
that entry into employment with the University and progression within
employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of
criteria which are related to the duties of each particular post and the
relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the
primary consideration. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant or member
of staff will be treated less favourably than another because of his or her
sex, marital status, racial group, disability, or sexual orientation. Where
suitably qualified individuals are available, selection committees will contain
at least one member of each sex.
Data Protection: All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the
purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in
accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the
University’s Data Protection Policy.
Immigration: Applicants who would need a work visa if appointed to the post are
asked to note that under the UK’s new points-based migration system they will
need to demonstrate that they have sufficient points, and in particular that:
(i) they have sufficient English language skills (evidenced by having passed a
test in basic English, or coming from a majority English-speaking country, or
having taken a degree taught in English)
and
(ii) that they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves and any dependents
until they receive their first salary payment.
Further information is available at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/generalarrangements/eligibility
Working at the University of Oxford
For further information about working at Oxford, please see:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/jobs/research
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