Sustainability Research Assistant

Please note hours will be varied each week - upto 42 hours March-July 2025.

The Youth Insight Project at Queen Mary, University of London is an innovative initiative that highlights the role of creative methodologies in research while fostering youth participation and community engagement. This project connects young people from east London with cutting-edge academic research, allowing them to contribute to the development and analysis of research across diverse fields. By integrating young people as active co-creators of knowledge, the project demonstrates the transformative potential of creative methods in both academia and social change.

The initiative focuses on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting youth-driven research through participatory and peer-led methodologies. By connecting young participants with leading academics, the project underscores the significance of creative methodologies as tools for addressing complex social issues and facilitating social change.

We are recruiting for Youth Insight Researchers to join the project and help to develop new toolkits for academics who are interested in involving young people in their research projects.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attending training sessions to learn about the research projects and develop your skills as a Youth Insight Researcher
• Agreeing a schedule with the academic whose research project you are placed on (up to 30hrs from April-July 2025)
• Attending planning sessions, workshops or meetings with the project team
• Contributing your reflections and ideas on how participatory and peer research with young people is undertaken by the research project you are placed on
• Writing up your reflections to an agreed template, which suits your skills and the project outcomes
• Being punctual, staying in communication with the project team, and acting in a professional manner with all project staff and participants

What?s on offer?

As a Youth Insight Researcher, you will have the chance to:

• Gain experience working with academics on research projects 
• Share your insights and ideas about youth participation and peer research
• Develop skills of observation, reflection, written communication, project and team working
• Enhance your CV with real-world experience from a recognised academic and cultural institution

Details of the Work:

• You will be a Youth Insight Researcher working in the QM Centre for Creative Collaboration
• You will be paid via QTemps by submitting your timesheets

Important Dates:

You must be available for the following training dates to apply:

March 12th 2pm-5pm

March 19th 2pm-5pm

April 2nd 2pm-5pm

April 9th 2pm-5pm

You can apply for this project if you are:

• Age 18-25
• A current student at Queen Mary
• A recent graduate of Queen Mary
• A young person from east London

To apply, please let us know

• Your age
• If current QM student ? your course and what year you are in
• If recent QM grad ? what you studied and what you are doing now
• If young person from east London ? what are you doing now

The please tell us about any skills or experience you have of:

• Being part of a participatory or peer research project
• Being part of any other youth projects or workshops
• Planning or conducting interviews
• Writing about your ideas and experiences (essays, blogs, reviews etc)
• Working to deadlines

The Diabetes and Obesity Theme has an exciting opportunity for a technician to join the technical team supporting the Theme’s laboratories in the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences.

The post involves a wide variety of duties centred on delivery of laboratory support to the Theme including preparation of reagents, ordering and monitoring inventories of shared consumables, and participation in operational rotas as required (e.g. liquid nitrogen replenishment, gas cylinders and waste disposal). The post holder will be expected to assist the technical manager with general laboratory operations to maintain a clean and safe environment and support for laboratory equipment and assessment and procurement of new instrumentation. The post holder will support the running of human islet research tissue bank by organising courier collections and culture of islets, and support the implementation of sustainable laboratory practices.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop skills and gain experience in a diverse range of laboratory techniques and research topics.

Please note, this role will be reviewed month by month as this is maternity cover.  The role is full time, Monday - Friday 9am- 5pm, 100% on site and no hybrid working.

See above.

1. Minimum level 3 qualification, e.g. A levels, AS levels, International Baccalaureate diploma or other Level 3 qualification, plus work experience in relevant technical/scientific posts OR Considerable knowledge and skills gained through work experience in relevant technical or scientific posts.


2. Knowledge and practical use of a range of technical skills and their environmental impact.


3. Ability to apply learnt techniques to the work context


4. Clear spoken and written communication skills, with proficient computer use and strong interpersonal and influencing/behavioural skills.


5. Proactive and responsive to contacts in immediate area, across a wider organisation and externally to build relationships and network.


6. Solutions-focused self-starter with strong planning and analytical skills, able to manage competing priorities and work with minimal supervision.


7. Working knowledge of regulations and best practice governing area of work, including Health and Safety and environmental sustainability.

THIS ROLE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. 

ELRI is an interdisciplinary platform that catalyses cutting-edge research focused on early life ? the period in the first few years when a child?s environment, exposures and experiences shape lifelong physical and mental health, human potential and flourishing. Intervening in this window to prevent disease, reduce inequalities, build strong relationships, and provide nurturing care can transform learning, wellbeing and opportunity across the life-course. 

We are searching for a network manager to provide high-level and effective support to the network as they establish their activities. This G5 role is offered 0.4FTE (2 days per week) through to the end of July 2025 (with potential for extension).

Activities for network manager:

• Continue monthly steering committee meetings
• Map academics across Faculties who want to be linked to ELRI (capture some basic Jotform details, develop a directory etc)
• Hold sandpits to start developing grant ideas within our ELRI themes and goals
• Map our exiting civic and community relationships, and existing infrastructure and projects across QMUL to identify our areas of critical mass, and our institutional strengths

A first degree and a PhD in a relevant area.

• Essential criteria:
  • Experience of working with academic and professional services colleagues across the university, including experience of working with people of different levels of seniority.
  • Good time management and planning skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines and work effectively under pressure. 
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills and the ability to convey complex concepts clearly, effectively and in an engaging style to a range of audiences including industry and other external organisations. 
  • Proven ability to manage competing demands effectively, responsibly and without close support.
• Desirable criteria:
  • Experience of working with external research partners.
  • Experience of supporting research sandpits/workshops.
  • A first degree and a PhD in a relevant area.