Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Business

The Role and Department

Dynamic and vibrant, is one of Durham University's four Faculties and is comprised of three research-intensive departments: Accounting, Economics and Finance, and Management and Marketing. The School currently has 180 academic and teaching staff, with plans and resource commitments to grow to 230 by 2027.

The successful candidate will be situated within the Strategy and Innovation group in the Centre for Strategy, Technological Innovation, and Operations (STIO). This is a multidisciplinary research centre that aims to be a global leader in developing and disseminating knowledge in the areas of strategy, technology and innovation management, and operations management. The centre develops cutting-edge research and applications to support industrial scientific advances and policy-making to benefit business, the economy, and society. The rigour and relevance of our research are evident in the impact our research is having on business thought leadership (see our publications), as well as on firms (big and small), public sector organizations, industry, and government.

The Role

Applications are invited for a 12-month PDRA position within the Department's Centre for Strategy, Technological Innovation, and Operations, linked very closely with the Durham Enterprise Centre, to evaluate the regional innovation support infrastructure and business innovation behaviours. This project is funded by the UK Government and Powered by Levelling Up through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by Durham County Council. The majority of the work will be undertaken within the Department of Management and Marketing under the direct supervision of Dr. Stephanie Scott and Dr Farzana Chowdhury.

The PDRA should have completed a Ph.D. in Innovation/R&D Management or Entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on behavioural aspects of collaborative networks, ecosystems, and/or regional development. The post-holder will be expected to employ mixed methodological skills and analytical techniques to collect, organize, and aggregate network data and formulate insights into enhancing innovation and R&D support provisions. As such, a general familiarity with the North East regional innovation landscape and the Levelling Up Agenda is required. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the development of dissemination techniques/reports for non-specialist audiences, as well as subsequent publications, conference presentations, and the identification of longer-term projects. Experience with social network analysis, participatory action research, and/or structural equation modelling will be an advantage, but training will be available. Previous publication history in ABS3 or higher is desirable but not required.