Lecturer in Social Statistics and Sociology (A2521)

We are seeking an outstanding and enthusiastic individual to join the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University. This is a permanent position, with duties split between teaching, service and research.  For the first five years of this contract, 50% of the candidate’s time will be allocated to a new programme of data intensive research funded by the Nuffield Foundation and hosted by the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research within the Department. 

Candidates for this post must hold a PhD, have excellent knowledge of a range of statistical methods appropriate to the social sciences and wish to apply their knowledge to research in the Department. In addition, we are looking for an individual with a strong interest in teaching social statistics to students with diverse educational backgrounds. The candidate will also be expected to contribute to current developments within the broader Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, which are focused on building capability in statistics.

Applications are particularly welcome from candidates with:

Experience in working with administrative and survey datasets 

Experience or keen interest in a range of data linkage techniques

Experience of securing permissions to access health data

Experience in communicating with a range of policy and practice audiences using a range of written/oral/visual or other methods 

Experience in developing course materials and teaching students at undergraduate or postgraduate levels

A keen interest in social justice 

The Department of Sociology is home to the interdisciplinary Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, co-hosted by the Law School. The Centre is supporting the Nuffield Foundation in improving access to, and generating analyses of, valuable administrative data assets relevant to family justice. The candidate will be expected to outline how they will contribute to this 5-year programme of work, as well describing their broader potential contribution to the Department of Sociology and the Faculty. The Centre has strong links with the University’s Data Science Institute, which will also afford excellent opportunities for collaboration and learning.

Preference will be given to candidates with a track record of income generation and publication, who can work across disciplinary boundaries and who have excellent communication skills. However, we would also encourage candidates who are earlier in career and can demonstrate considerable potential.

Lancaster Sociology is an exciting, research-oriented department and home to academics from a range of different original disciplines attracted by the stimulating ‘post-disciplinary’ intellectual environment. The Department was rated in the top three for sociology in the last UK Research Excellence Framework and has an outstanding international profile. The Department practices a form of ‘public sociology’ that tries to investigate, protect and enhance the notion of the public interest in changing times.

Data Science is a key area of growth for Lancaster University and the Institute is founded on historic strengths in Computer Science, Statistics and Operational Research coupled with an outstanding track record in multidisciplinary research. Comprising more than 70 academics with existing expertise at Lancaster, the Data Science Institute is setting new global standards for contemporary data-driven research challenges in areas including data and society, justice, health, and the environment. 

For informal discussion about this post and the Nuffield Foundation funded programme of work associated with this post, candidates are encouraged to contact:

Professor Karen Broadhurst, Department of Sociology 

Email: k.broadhurst@lancaster.ac.uk  

And /or: Dr Yang Hu 

Email: yang.hu@lancaster.ac.uk

Find the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory at: https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk

Find the Centre for Child and Family Justice at: https://www.cfj-lancaster.org.uk

Find the Department of Sociology at: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sociology/

Find the Data Science Institute at: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/dsi/

We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups.

Closing Date: 22 Jan 2019
Category: Academic