Research Fellow in Public Engagement and Science Governance

On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE and within this, you will be closely connected to and work across one of our academic divisions (University of Greenwich or University of Kent), contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity. Combining these strengths, LASE brings scale, resilience and shared ambition to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

Are you an experienced researcher with a passion for public engagement and the social dimensions of emerging science?

Do you want to help shape new approaches to engaging diverse communities in conversations about genomic science?

We are seeking a Research Fellow to join the Wellcome-funded project, Tuning EARS for the Future: Reframing Engagement in (Genomic) Science. This project reframes public engagement from cataloguing stakeholder views to addressing the relational gaps that shape how publics and stakeholders engage with emerging science.

Working closely with Professor Joy Y. Zhang and a multidisciplinary research team, you will contribute to the development of innovative public dialogue approaches, collaborate with a range of stakeholders, and help generate research that informs the future of engagement in genomic science. You will be experienced in collaborative research and public engagement with comprehensive knowledge of emerging biomedical or genomic sciences and their associated social, ethical and policy dimensions.

The post is full-time and for a fixed period to the end of August 2027.

As a Research Fellow you can expect to be involved in:

• Designing and conducting empirical research to support the successful delivery of the Tuning EARS for the Future project.
• Conducting in-depth media, policy, and secondary data analysis, synthesizing findings to generate meaningful insights for the project.
• Co-leading high-impact academic publications that contribute to scholarly discourse and advance knowledge in the field.
• Playing a central role in curating, publicising and delivering engagement activities with diverse stakeholders.

What will you bring to the role?

• A PhD, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as sociology, science communication, anthropology, political science, bioethics or a related field.
• Experience of independently designing and conducting rigorous empirical social research, with a strong publication record.
• Knowledge of the social, ethical and policy dimensions of emerging biomedical or genomic sciences.
• Experience of public engagement or science communication, with excellent collaborative and communication skills.

What we can offer in return

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs - for this role, remote work may be supported, however there will be a need to attend the Canterbury campus regularly)
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

This role is based at the School of Social Sciences and the university-level research centre, the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ). The School has been ranked 3rd in the UK for overall research quality, with 100% of its environment classified as world-leading in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). GSEJ serves as a hub for transdisciplinary and international collaboration on major research programmes. It has co-hosted a G20 India-UK dialogue on science diplomacy, and its policy recommendations on global biodata governance were included in the formal Think 7 communiqué to the G7 presidency in 2024.

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post.

For enquiries about the roles, please contact Joy Y. Zhang via email at ***email_hidden***. For further information regarding the application process, please contact [email protected] quoting reference number SSS-038-26

We particularly welcome applications from female candidates as they are under-represented at this level in this area

• Occasionally we may need to close a vacancy before the published deadline due to a high number of applications being received, therefore we strongly advise you to submit your application as soon as possible. (All vacancies will be open for at least one week.)

PLEASE NOTE: We prioritise applications from current University of Kent redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.

We know applicants may use AI tools to help prepare job applications. For guidance on how to use AI responsibly and effectively, see: Using AI in your job application

Applications must be made via the University’s online application system; CVs or details sent directly to the department or via email cannot be considered.

The University of Kent values diversity and equality at all levels.

Section

School of Social Sciences

Location

Canterbury

Salary

£48,822 to £54,893 per annum pro rata

Grade

Grade 8

Post Type

Full Time

Contract Type

Fixed Term - Ends 31/08/2027

Release Date

Friday 26 June 2026

Closing Date

23.59 hours BST on Tuesday 28 July 2026 (unless otherwise stated*)

Interview Date

Tuesday 11 August 2026

Reference

SSS-038-26