Senior Research Fellow - Internal Only

This is a fixed term post until June 2028

The role is research driven and therefore largely flexible, but the successful candidate will be expected to feed into timetabled teaching on BA and MA fine art as well as REF planning meetings and PhD Supervision.

About the school

The School of Arts Culture and Environment as a strong track record for research in Art and Design, producing international outputs across a diverse range of subjects and interests, from graphic novels to documentary film, curation, painting and sculpture. We work closely with communities in Cheltenham, Gloucester and the region to foster collaboration and grow confidence in the visual arts as a key component of a healthy society. We have a growing reputation for international research and world leading researchers in Fine Art and Illustration. At the last REF in 2021 we submitted 7.8 FTE for Art and Design 78% of which were 3 and 4 outputs, of which 34% were 4 . For REF 2029 we are expecting an FTE of 14 plus and are growing both the range and scope of our research.

About the role

This role is to bring an established researcher into the school team and develop new research projects for our REF submission in 2029. We are looking for a candidate who can offer the following:

• lead new research projects including external funding bids
• will be joining us with strong research projects already in train
• has supervision experience and ideally PhD completions
• is an experienced leader and mentor to other research active staff
• is knowledgeable about the REF and aware of some of the more detailed changes and implications of REF 2029

Where there is a historic research relationship between the successful candidate and current staff researchers, this will also be factored into potential research development and future collaboration.

The role requires a collaborative approach, a shrewd understanding of the positive relationship between research, research degree supervision and course teaching and a collegiate attitude to building confidence in research and sharing good practice. It will involve mentoring colleagues in both research and PhD supervision and will also entail advance planning, meeting attendance for REF strategy building and both leading and participating in external bid writing. The successful candidate will be an individual who is rigorous in their research, but also a warm and non-hierarchical communicator with students, who sees practice research as a significant part of a healthy academic culture and demonstrates a deep knowledge and love for contemporary fine art.

Job expectations

The candidate will be expected to have international research and be an experienced practice-based researcher who has in addition strong writing and editorial skills and a track record of publishing for catalogues and art journals.

Experience of peer reviewing for established academic journals would be ideal but is not mandatory.

The candidate will be expected to have a PhD or equivalent experience and have PhD supervision experience. PhD completions would be desirable but not mandatory.

Be able to bring in publishing and exhibiting opportunities for research peers and mentor colleagues in the process of ensuring practice outputs meet the minimum 3 standard required for our REF submission.

How to apply

To apply please click on APPLY at the bottom of this page, you will be asked to submit a CV along with a Supporting Statement that addresses how you meet the essential criteria or complete the attached application form. CVs alone will not be considered.

For informal conversations about the role please contact Andrew Bick (Prof)

Key dates

Interview: 15 April 2026

To avoid disappointment please apply early, should we find a suitable candidate we will close the advert.

For more information about out benefits and working for the University please clickhere

Commitment to diversity

The University is committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff community and welcomes applications from currently under-represented sections of our workforce. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, guaranteeing an interview to everyone who meets the definition of disability set out in the Equality Act 2010 and the essential criteria contained within the person specification.

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