Job Description
Full-time, Fixed Term for 36 months, starting 1st May 2026
Closing date: 23:59 4th March 2026
Interviews will be held: 13th March 2026
By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website UK Visas and Immigration Website.
We are seeking a motivated and skilled Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join the Institute of Education at the University of Reading on a full-time (1.0 FTE) fixed-term basis for 36 months, starting 1 May 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter). This is an exciting opportunity to support a Leverhulme Trust-funded project, Spatial belonging: Students’ inclusion and exclusion in higher education, led by Professor Billy Wong (PI).
You will play a central role in the design and delivery of qualitative fieldwork across multiple English universities, including interviews, photovoice case studies and collaborative discussion groups. Working closely with the PI, you will help develop new theoretical and empirical insights and academic outputs into how physical, digital, relational and structural spaces shape students’ sense of belonging, inclusion and exclusion.
You will have:
- A PhD in education, sociology, human geography or a closely related social science, or evidence of PhD thesis submission in one of these fields
- Strong qualitative research skills, including experience of conducting interviews, thematic analysis and use of NVivo or similar software
- Experience with participatory and visual methods such as photovoice, mapping or digital ethnography
- Good knowledge of higher education contexts and inequalities, including issues of belonging, identity or student experience
- Experience of conducting qualitative research with students in higher education or comparable groups, including recruitment and consent processes
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and strong organisational skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to travel to universities across England for data collection and project events, and to work on-site at the University of Reading’s London Road campus (RG1 5EX) for part of each week in line with hybrid working expectations
This role offers the flexibility of hybrid working, opportunities for professional development and the chance to contribute to high-impact research on space, belonging and inequality in higher education.
Contact Name Billy Wong
Contact Job Title Professor of Education
Contact Email address b.wong@reading.ac.uk
We welcome applications from both external and internal candidates. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role can be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Internal candidates should discuss this with their line manager prior to applying.
The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.
