Assistant Professor (Research)

The Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Sociology at Durham University seeks to appoint a talented researcher and scholar to the role of Assistant Professor (Research) to work with The Practice, one of the sites of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities (DRP-MH). We welcome applications from those with research interests in the field of medical sociology and anthropology and are particularly eager to hear from applicants with expertise in ethnographic research on healthcare in marginalised communities.

The Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities at Durham University aims to empower health and wellbeing researchers from different sectors and disciplines to co-develop new and experimental approaches to tackling health challenges, including those arising at the intersections of mental health and health inequalities. The Platform will create space for experimentation and intellectual risk-taking, support networks globally, and revolutionize the research capacity of the field of Medical Humanities. It will enable large-scale collaborations with community, creative, health and voluntary sector organisations, including through international partnerships with leading Universities in the USA, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Africa and China.

Applications are invited for an Assistant Professor (Research) in Sociology with a particular emphasis on experiences of health and illness in marginalised and/or socioeconomically deprived communities. The post holder will be responsible for designing and conducting research as part of The Practice, a partnership with a GP practice based in the Northeast of England. The Practice is concerned with developing new insights into intractable questions around health inequalities, mental health, and the treatment of complex multi-morbidities.

The postholder will work closely with Site leads Dr. Jesse Proudfoot and Dr. Jonathan Coates (a GP at St. Anthony's Health Centre and Associate Professor in Practice at the IMH) to design and conduct new research at The Practice, facilitate new projects from other Platform team members for the site, and support collaborations with other researchers and stakeholders.

Practice site activities may include but are not limited to: regular participation in Site meetings, workshops and other events; collaboration in methodological innovation with interdisciplinary and cross-sector partners through a range of modalities; the design and delivery of pilot and proof-of-concept studies; and taking shared responsibility for sustaining a flourishing research culture in the Site and Platform more broadly.

Key Responsibilities:
- Pursue research that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour, commensurate with the Department's continuing emphasis on international excellence.
- Develop clear plans for the pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement.
- Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity.
- Demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative work, citizenship and values of the Department.
- Contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and enhance the Department's commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture.
- Regular participation (in-person as well as virtual) at Site, Lab and Platform activities, as agreed with the Line Manager.
- Carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department.

Person Specification – Essential Criteria (Grade 8):

Research:
1. A good first degree and a PhD in medical sociology or anthropology.
2. Evidence of high-quality outputs, some of which is recognised as world-class.
3. A personal research plan which supports and enhances the Sociology Department's research strategy and the research plans of The Practice.
4. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national/international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.

Skills:
1. Experience in conducting high quality academic research, with specific experience in conducting ethnographic fieldwork on healthcare in marginalised communities and within NHS settings.
2. Qualitative research skills (e.g. ethnography, interviews, focus groups, participant observation, co-produced research).
3. Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
4. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
5. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
6. Experience working with cross-sector partners such as healthcare and voluntary organisations.

Service, Citizenship and Values:
1. Evidence of participation in the citizenship/administrative activities of an academic Department, Faculty or University.
2. Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums. The ability to confidently engage and communicate with people in marginalised communities is of particular importance.

Desirable Criteria:
A. Income generation – engagement in the development of successful research project proposals.
B. Research supervision – involvement in excellent supervision for PhD, Masters, other research students, and IMH In-Practice fellows.
C. Research Leadership – contribution to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers.
D. Research Impact – evidence of the impact of research beyond the candidate's institution.
E. Leadership – engagement in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of the academic department and/or discipline.

The Department of Sociology at Durham was established in 1964 and ranks among the UK's leading departments. Durham ranks 3rd for Sociology and 5th for Criminology in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, 4th in the Complete University Guide 2027, and 5th for Sociology and Social Policy in the Guardian University Guide 2026. The Department holds an Athena SWAN silver award and was ranked 4th in the UK for research impact in REF 2021.

Assistant Professors (Research) are encouraged to focus on research but are also expected to engage in wider citizenship. Academic colleagues are supported to publish excellent research with a focus on high quality outputs, and benefit from resources to attend conferences, fund research activities, a generous research leave policy, and a designated mentor.

The post is fixed term for 36 months from 11 January 2027 to 10 January 2030.