Research Associate - College of Arts and Law - 107760 - Grade 6

Position Details

College of Arts and Law

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906

Grade: 6

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to July 2027

Closing date: 7th September 2026

Background

The Department of Linguistics and Communication seeks to appoint a Research Associate to work on the British Academy funded project ‘Language evolution and sociolinguistic variation in signing communities’ (or ‘EvoSLang’) led by Dr. Rose Stamp and Prof. Adam Schembri. EvoSLang tries to understand the factors which affect sign choice; why do some variants “win” out in language evolution and others disappear out of usage? In this project, we compare variation across three sign languages of different ages and sociolinguistic profiles: British Sign Language (BSL), Israeli Sign Language (ISL) and Kufr Qassem Sign Language (KQSL). 

The focus of this position involves working closely with the British deaf community and collecting data from BSL signers. The research associate will work closely with the project leaders to recruit participants, collect and manage data, and code linguistic information from video recordings. Participants will be recruited from several regions across the UK, from different age groups and backgrounds. 

The research associate will need to be a fluent signer of BSL, with strong connections to the British deaf community. It is beneficial to have some experience in research skills, as well as excellent organisation and administration skills and the ability to work independently. We believe that signed language research may be effectively carried out by researchers from a range of backgrounds. However, in light of the under-representation of deaf scholars and professionals in academia, we are committed to creating opportunities for deaf scholars. In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements, we therefore strongly encourage deaf individuals to apply.

The Department of Linguistics and Communication has an outstanding international reputation, with particular strengths in relevant areas such as corpus linguistics, quantitative sociolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, and a growing interest in sign language research and gesture studies. As a member of the Department, the research associate will join a lively and flourishing research community where they will enjoy opportunities for intellectual and other leadership in a collegiate and highly ambitious environment.

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Role Summary

•    Work within specified research grants and/or projects
•    Operate within area of specialism
•    Contribute to publications

Main Duties

• Recruit deaf BSL users from across the UK, developing and maintaining relationships with deaf community organisations, networks, and individuals to achieve project recruitment targets
• Liaise with participants to arrange research sessions, provide study information, obtain informed consent, and ensure all ethical procedures are followed
• Assist with the collection and organisation of video-based linguistic data
• Analyse and code linguistic data from BSL video recordings according to established coding protocols, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and reliability
• Maintain detailed records of recruitment, coding decisions, and project documentation
• Organise, manage, and securely store research data in accordance with institutional policies and data protection regulations
• Participate in training and exercises to ensure high-quality linguistic annotation
• Contribute to regular project meetings by providing updates on recruitment progress and coding activities.
• Assist with literature searches, data preparation, and other research-related tasks as required.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Undertake administrative duties associated with the project, including scheduling, maintaining participant databases, and preparing project documentation
• Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods
• Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff
• Identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures
• Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity duties document.

The research associate will be expected to work collaboratively with the research team while also demonstrating the ability to work independently, manage their workload effectively, and meet project deadlines.

Person Specification

• Fluency in British Sign Language (BSL), with excellent receptive and productive signing skills
• Experience working with deaf communities and an understanding of deaf culture
• Experience recruiting research participants or engaging with community groups
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with participants and stakeholders
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet project deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to accurately follow research protocols
• Experience coding or annotating linguistic, behavioural, or video data, or a willingness to undertake training in linguistic coding
• Good IT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office and managing digital files and databases
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team
• Understanding of research ethics, confidentiality, and data protection requirements
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties under the Equality Act 2010. Including fostering good relations and advancing the universities Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).

• Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity knowledge, skills and experience document.

  
  

Informal enquiries to Rosemary Stamp, email: [email protected] 

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

 We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.