These Role Descriptions are intended as a guide to help increase understanding of the kinds of evidence required at each specified grade. The actual evaluated grade of a post depends on its specific circumstances, and the fact that a role-holder may appear to meet several of the examples cited does not necessarily mean that a case for promotion has been established.
Post title Research Associate
6
Senior Research Associate
7
Research Fellow
(Principal Investigator)
8
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Senior Research Fellow
9 Grade
Responsible to:
(post title)
Purpose of the role:
Typically, Principal Investigator
Major Work Areas:
Typically, Principal
Investigator
Support and undertake research to meet the specified aims of projects.
Contribute to development activity and dissemination of findings.
Contribute to the national and international research reputation of the institution.
Work within the strategic direction of the University as a whole, and within the
University’s code of ethics and practice guidelines.
1. Support and undertake research activity, which may be in a variety of forms, according to the nature of the research.
2. Contribute to planning and development, writing of reports/publications, dissemination of research findings.
Develop a research profile through the pursuit of funding, conducting of research and dissemination of findings.
Contribute to the national and international research reputation of the institution.
Work within the strategic direction of the University as a whole, and within the University’s code of ethics and practice guidelines.
1. Form individual and/or joint project proposals.
2. Identify sources of funding and pursue the process of securing funds.
3. Conduct individual and collaborative research projects.
4. Write and/or contribute to publications or disseminate research findings using other appropriate media.
5. Make presentations at conferences or exhibit work at
Research project team (or theme) leader
Lead the development of research through the pursuit of funding, conducting of research and dissemination of findings.
Contribute to the national and international research reputation of the institution.
Work within the strategic direction of the University as a whole, and within the Un iversity’s code of ethics and practice guidelines.
1. Lead the formation of individual or joint project proposals.
2. Identify sources of funding and pursue the process of securing funds sufficient to ensure sustainability of research output.
3. Lead bids/opportunities/collaborations with other institutions and bodies producing demonstrable benefits to the University.
4. Responsible for conducting and complying with ethical research risk assessments for projects
Research project team (or theme) leader
Make a major contribution to the development and delivery of research and its strategy.
Contribute to the national and international research reputation of the institution.
Work within the strategic direction of the University as a whole, and within the University’s code of ethics and practice guidelines.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Major contribution to the development of research projects.
Lead/steer the research strategy at departmental or subdepartmental level.
Lead bids/opportunities/collaborations with other institutions and bodies producing demonstrable benefits to the University.
Provide leadership/steer regarding ethical research generally in the

Post title
Communications
Research Associate
Oral
Contribute to the presentation of research results at conferences.
Present research results at seminars within the
University.
Communicate with academic staff and peer groups of researchers on research related matters.
May negotiate access to project informants and maintain contact with
Senior Research Associate other appropriate events.
6. Extend, transform and apply acquired knowledge to teaching, further research and appropriate external activities.
Oral
Present the results of own research at conferences within and outside of the University.
Present research results at seminars within the University.
Communicate with academic staff and peer groups of researchers on research related matters.
Discuss issues with students and staff as part of the process of supervising projects.
May communicate the aims of research at external meetings.
Research Fellow
(Principal Investigator) managed.
5. Conduct individual and collaborative research projects.
6. Write and/or contribute to publications or disseminate research findings using other appropriate media.
7. Make presentations at conferences or exhibit work at other appropriate events.
8. Extend, transform and apply acquired knowledge to teaching, further research and appropriate external activities.
9. Publish outputs as appropriate to discipline that are of high national reputation.
10. Act as a referee and contribute to peer assessment of grant proposals and publications.
Oral
Present the results of own research at conferences within and outside of the
University.
Present research results at seminars within the University.
Communicate with academic staff and peer groups of researchers on research related matters.
Discuss issues with students and staff as part of the process of supervising projects.
Communicate the aims of research at external meetings.
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Senior Research Fellow
5.
6.
7. department/faculty.
Conduct individual and collaborative research projects.
Lead/steer the delivery and dissemination of research projects.
Publish outputs as appropriate to discipline that are of international reputation.
Take a strategic lead on:
8.
9. extend, transform and apply acquired knowledge to teaching, further research and appropriate external activities.
Oral
Present the results of own research at conferences within and outside of the University.
Present research results at seminars within the University.
Communicate with academic staff and peer groups of researchers on research related matters.
Discuss issues with students and staff as part of the process of supervising projects.
Communicate the aims and strategy of research at external meetings.

Post title
Teamwork & motivation
Liaison & networking
Research Associate Senior Research Associate them.
May conduct interviews as part of the process of gathering data.
Written
Contribute to research reports and publications and/or funding applications.
May write research articles or newsletters.
Written communications to a wide range of internal and external contacts concerning research matters.
Take direction from the
Principal Investigator or other senior colleague.
Attend project meetings as required.
May collaborate with colleagues outside of the immediate research team.
May connect with other research teams with different but related areas of research.
May negotiate access to project informants and maintain contact with them.
May conduct interviews as part of the process of gathering data.
Written
Write and/or contribute to research reports and publications.
Write and/or contribute to funding applications.
Write research articles or newsletters.
Written communications to a wide range of internal and external contacts concerning research matters.
Contribute to the research team objectives. Not closely directed and expected to develop own research profile, techniques and decide priorities.
Guidance is generally available from more experienced academic colleagues.
May supervise the work of
Research Assistant(s) or equivalent other post AND/OR lead on a particular aspect of the research.
Organise project meetings.
Undertake research in collaboration with colleagues outside of the immediate research team.
Connect with other research teams with different but related areas of research.
Written
Research Fellow
(Principal Investigator)
Write and/or contribute to research reports and publications.
Write and/or contribute to funding applications.
Write research articles or newsletters.
Written communications to a wide range of internal and external contacts concerning research matters.
Leader of research project(s) and their associate team(s).
Develop external networks.
Collaborate actively within and outwith the institution to complete research projects and advance thinking.
Occasional invited speaker.
Seek sources of additional funding
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Senior Research Fellow
Written
Write and/or contribute to research reports and publications.
Write and/or contribute to funding applications.
Write research articles or newsletters.
Written communications to a wide range of internal and external contacts concerning research matters.
Lead the development and delivery of a major area of research at departmental or equivalent level.
Lead and develop internal networks e.g. by chairing and participating in institutional committees.
Develop links with external contacts to foster collaboration and generate income. e.g. other education and research bodies, employers, professional bodies.

Post title
Service delivery
Decision making processes & outcomes
Planning &
Research Associate
May actively participate in networks that seek to promote research collaboration, further develop the area of research or seek sources of additional funding.
Conduct literature searches.
Support and undertake research as described in grant proposals.
Contribute to some planning and development activity.
Individual: Decide how to undertake own work.
Jointly, with line manager: on methods and approaches.
Advice to students and other staff: regarding research methodology and techniques.
Plan and manage own
Senior Research Associate
Actively participate in networks that seek to promote research collaboration, further develop the area of research and seek sources of additional funding.
Review literature.
Undertake research as described in grant proposals.
Contribute to the design of the research activity in accordance with grant proposals.
Individual: develop an individual research profile and decide how the research is conducted.
Consider alternative ways of most effective use of budget.
Jointly, with the PI: staff appointments; substantial equipment purchases; long-term aims of the research.
Advice to students and other staff and externally: regarding research methodology and techniques.
Plan and manage own research
Research Fellow
(Principal Investigator) and generate income.
Lead the delivery of research through the pursuit of funding, conducting of research and dissemination of findings.
Project management & co-ordination of outputs.
Realise opportunities for knowledge exchange with internal and external partners and end users eg through dissemination and application of research outputs,
(See role purpose above)
Individual: budget management at the individual project level. Ethics risk assessment decisions. May decide who should speak to the media in response to a request.
Joint: research programmes and methodologies.
Advice: advise colleagues internally and externally on areas of specilaism.
Responsible for the management of
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Senior Research Fellow
Regular invited speaker at international conferences.
Foster links with Research Councils.
Called upon by government or others to provide advice, where appropriate.
Make a major contribution to the development and delivery of research strategy.
Foster links with Research Councils.
Realise opportunities for knowledge exchange with internal and external partners and end users at a strategic level.
(See role purpose above)
Individual: direct resources of a research budget. May decide who should speak to the media in response to a request.
Joint: decisions that impact on other related research programmes.
Advice: contribute to the development of new research projects or activities. External advice eg to government & media.
Contribute to the development and

Post title organising resources
Initiative & problem solving
Analysis & research
Sensory & physical demands
Work environment
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Research Associate research activities and priorities to meet project targets.
Determine best value for project resources and feed this information to senior colleagues.
Contribute to resolving practical problems concerning the day to day running of the project eg organising and if necessary cancelling an interview or a focus group
Senior Research Associate activities and priorities to meet project targets.
Typically, plan the work of 1
Research or other assistant and/or co-ordinate external team members’ activities and/or with the planning of student research
Assist with the planning of the overall project (where relevant), and with the organisation and management of workshops and other events.
Resolving practical and theoretical problems concerning methodology, analysis and ethics that arise whilst conducting research are typical problems and may also be the most complex type of problem.
Examples of other problems that may arise are concerned with: validation of outcomes through to publishing results; precision measurement; gaining access to project participants; finding and developing funding and projects.
Resolve practical and theoretical problems concerning the conducting, validation and reporting of research.
Take initiative on the development of ideas for generating income and promoting a substantial area of research.
Resolves the day to day problems associated with the management of projects.
Research Fellow
(Principal Investigator) specified project(s).
Contribute to the management and planning of resources (financial, equipment, people) across areas of research.
Senior Research Fellow direction of research activity over a substantial area of research.
Resolve problems of development, delivery and strategy across research projects.
Lead the development of ideas for generating income and promoting a substantial area of research.
Supporting and undertaking research activity.
Conduct individual and collaborative academic research.
Solve unique, open or unsolved research issues to meet project goals.
Disseminate research findings.
Lead individual and collaborative academic research.
Solve unique, open or unsolved research issues to meet project goals.
Disseminate research findings.
Lead in data analysis, methodology and techniques.
Lead/steer the direction of research and significantly contribute to research strategy.
Identify advances in techniques and approaches to dissemination.
Examples of demands depend on the nature of the research, and range from normal (straightforward) computer use (at the lowest level) through to use of complex tools, equipment and instruments.
May be required to respond to situations where people are angry, emotional and/or distressed.
May be exposed to a variety of other safety hazards, depending on the nature of the research e.g. chemicals or other hazards in a laboratory.

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Post title Research Associate Senior Research Associate Research Fellow
(Principal Investigator)
Senior Research Fellow
Pastoral care & welfare
Team development
Teaching & learning support
May be responsible for the safety of others, e.g. in fieldwork situations.
Typically, will provide welfare support to 1 Research or other assistant (as their supervisor).
Typically, as supervisor of student projects, provides some welfare support as required.
Provide pastoral care and welfare support to team supervised.
Responsible for welfare issues relating to project staff and participants as part of ethical research risk assessments.
Provide informal assistance to ug and/or pg students.
Develop colleagues in the team by sharing own skills, knowledge and expertise.
Supervise or co-supervise ug and/or pg student projects.
Teach/train students and staff in various research techniques.
Contribute to the development of module(s) of scheme(s) of study.
As Team Leader, develops the team.
Contribute to the teaching and learning programmes in the department.
Teach/train students and staff in various research techniques.
Supervise post graduate research students.
Provide pastoral care and welfare support to team supervised.
May provide leadership/steer regarding ethical research generally in the department.
As a leader of team(s), develops them.
Contribute to the teaching and learning programmes in the department.
Teach/train students and staff in various research techniques.
Supervise post graduate research students.
May lead the development of schemes of study from research.
Knowledge & experience
Particular knowledge and technical expertise appropriate to the area of research.
Sufficient expertise to write authoritative material or provide guidance in a broad area of research.
Possess sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in discipline to develop research project(s).
Acknowledged authority in the subject area with international reputation.
Possess sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in discipline to develop research programme(s).