Research Fellow: Penal Supervision in Comparative Context (Part time, fixed-term) (SOC

This role involves working as part of a team for one year on a project funded by the Leverhulme Trust entitled: Penal Supervision in Comparative Context. The scale, diversity and intensity of penal supervision has greatly increased in recent years, leading to suggestions that we have entered an era of ‘mass supervision’. Three times as many people are supervised as are imprisoned, yet there have been few in-depth attempts to understand the nature of supervision and its growth. This comparative research will explore supervision in situ across five nations (England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). Using innovative methods, the study will generate crucial knowledge about how supervision is experienced, practiced and governed, and the socio-political conditions that influence its forms and its development.  Based at the University of Nottingham, you will be one of three Post-Doctoral Researchers working on the project. This part-time role will involve data collection including mobile ethnographic methods, research interviews and the production of research outputs. This role will involve periodic travel for data collection. We are committed to providing an inclusive research environment and to supporting the career development of post-doctoral researchers working on the project. As part of the project team, you will work directly with Professor Nicola Carr, University of Nottingham and closely with other members of the project team.

About you

We are looking for a motivated, highly qualified individual with a PhD in criminology, law, social sciences or a cognate discipline, who will join our research team to explore penal supervision in comparative contexts. You will have excellent communication skills, and demonstrable experience of carrying out research. Experience of qualitative approaches such as ethnography and use of mobile data collection technologies is desirable. You should have experience of data analysis and an ability to work independently and as part of a team. Familiarity with the substantive research topic (comparative criminology, penal supervision) is desirable.   

What we offer

A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environmentA hybrid working arrangement with the blended approach of home and office working each weekGenerous holiday entitlement of 30 days (pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.Our reward scheme grants bonuses of numerous values for excellent workWe are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunitiesYou will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

What next

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details.

This is a fixed term post for 1 year. Your working hours will be 18.125 hours per week. Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role. 

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Nicola Carr: nicola.carr@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 30 May 2025 Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)