Job Description

Salary: Research Assistant: £33,951 - £35,608 per annum

Research Associate: £36,636 - £38,784 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits 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: 11 June 2026

The Role

Ecologies of Governance is an AHRC-funded archaeological research project investigating the emergence of inequality and the economic basis of rulership in early medieval societies. The scheme will undertake multi-proxy and comparative analyses of the environment and agrarian regimes of some of the most iconic early royal landscapes of Britain and Ireland, the results of which will revolutionise our understanding of rulership and governance in the first millennium AD.

As a Fieldwork Research Assistant/Associate you will be a highly productive, ambitious and collaborative member of the Ecologies of Governance team. Based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA) at Newcastle University, you will collaborate with all members of the project team, including those based at Queen’s University Belfast and Cardiff University. You will carry out research on case study royal landscapes that form the focus of the project, with primary responsibility for designing and delivering the programme of archaeological fieldwork. This will include development of the project GIS, geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and targeted excavation, in order to detail the evolution of early medieval sites and landscapes. You will oversee the day-to-day management of fieldwork elements in the project’s work packages, related collaboration, and outreach. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of working independently to deliver programmes of archaeological fieldwork, and expertise in geophysical and topographic survey and excavation. A research profile in early medieval archaeology, appropriate to career stage, is considered desirable but is not essential.

The project is hosted in the School of History, Classics & Archaeology, which has a vibrant and active research culture with particular strengths in interdisciplinary working and supporting the holistic career development of early career colleagues. The successful candidate will be provided with academic and pastoral support within the School, and training will be provided to develop their competences. You will also benefit from access to the School’s mentoring scheme and extensive training opportunities including a bespoke personal development plan, and peer support from a cross-disciplinary cohort of talented postdoctoral and early career researchers, as well as access to fieldwork equipment and software.

Newcastle University follows the Researcher Development Concordat: Researcher Development | Our Research | Newcastle University We enable all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This commitment secures our thriving research culture and vibrant research environment. Our offer to each individual and their researcher development includes mentoring, annual research planning discussions, pooled research funding to support career development and research activities, peer review support for the development of research and innovation funding applications.

The duration of post is a maximum 30-month fixed term full-time appointment. The candidate will start work as soon as possible after interview.. Flexible working requests are welcome, but the postholder must be willing to travel for fieldwork and other research/engagement activities as part of the project. For the duration of the project, you will be reporting to Dr Duncan Wright duncan.wright@ncl.ac.uk We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you would like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact Dr Wright at the email address above. We are committed to making the process accessible to everyone and can provide additional support and adjustments to meet your needs.

Applicants with minority and/or host community backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. Should the successful applicant require a UK Visa for this role, they will be eligible to apply through the Global Talent Visa route. The University will support the applicant through this process.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level. Find out more about the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences here

To apply, please upload an up-to-date CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential job criteria.

Key Accountabilities

Research Assistant

• Assist with the design and delivery of the project’s programme of archaeological fieldwork, including geophysical and topographic surveys and targeted excavation
• Feed into geospatial analyses across the case study landscapes, in order to develop a comprehensive project GIS into which fieldwork results and other datasets will be integrated.
• Assist in the preparation of discrete funding proposals and applications to external bodies as appropriate.
• Engage and advise heritage stakeholders on access, data collection and results of same.
• Undertake supplementary duties relevant to the success of the project, including administrative duties and additional training and development activities as required.
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project.
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project.
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books).
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.

Research Associate

• Co-design and deliver the project’s programme of archaeological fieldwork, including geophysical and topographic surveys and targeted excavation
• Lead geospatial analyses across the case study landscapes, and develop a comprehensive GIS database into which fieldwork results and other datasets will be integrated.
• Take an active role in the preparation of discrete funding proposals and applications to external bodies as appropriate.
• Lead engagement and provide advice to heritage stakeholders on access, data collection and results of same.
• Undertake supplementary duties relevant to the success of the project, including administrative duties and additional training and development activities as required.
• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research.
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications.
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Research Assistant

• Ability to support the design and delivery of archaeological fieldwork surveys, including geophysical and topographic investigation
• Experience of working independently on archaeological excavations and of bringing post-excavation work to completion
• Ability to carry out geospatial analyses, and experience of developing comprehensive, multifaceted GIS databases
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.

In addition for Research Associate

• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

Research Assistant

• Honours degree in Archaeology or a related discipline

In addition for Research Associate

• PhD in Archaeology or a related discipline

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 Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident 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: 29087