Research Fellow

ABOUT THE ROLE Working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, you will support the Principal Investigator in delivery of research activity on the European Commission-funded project ‘IMAGINE’: Integrating Methods, Awareness & Gamified Interventions for Next-Gen Prevention of Youth Crime’. IMAGINE will attempt at shifting Europe’s approach to preventing and countering youth crime from reactive responses to proactive, evidence-based and rights-compliant action. It will fuse social sciences and technology within a co-creative methodology involving LEAs, CSOs, schools and youth services. It will design and validate an AI-enabled Gamification & Digital Storytelling (GDS) toolsuite, integrating purpose-built serious games and interactive learning experiences, that safely mirrors real-world recruitment, social grooming and escalation across online and offline settings. This is a fixed term post from September 2026 until August 2029. You can read more about the role in job description . ABOUT THE TEAM This Research Project is being delivered within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Northumbria University is a vibrant, interdisciplinary community committed to understanding society and shaping its future. Bringing together disciplines including history, English, criminology, sociology, politics, international relations and media, the School combines research excellence with innovative, student-centred education. Our research-led teaching is informed by work addressing contemporary global challenges, from criminal justice reform and global development to culture, identity, gender and social change. Staff are active researchers whose expertise directly enriches the student experience. The School is recognised for its strong external partnerships with organisations across the public, private and cultural sectors, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and real-world impact. Students benefit from placements, volunteering, internships and international opportunities that enhance their learning and employability. We are a diverse, inclusive and supportive academic community where colleagues are encouraged to pursue impactful research, deliver an outstanding student experience and contribute to meaningful societal change. To read more about the School, please follow the link below - School of Humanities and Social Sciences | Northumbria ABOUT YOU Applicants should hold a PhD in social sciences, criminology, sociology, psychology, or related discipline, and have demonstrable specialist expert knowledge in youth crime (prevention), safeguarding, youth vulnerability, criminal recruitment, or related social issues online and offline Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification . To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now' . Your application should include a covering letter and a CV. We welcome applications from the UK and across the world. Visit our web pages for details about Relocation Assistance . ABOUT US Join Northumbria University, a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power. Discover more about us . With over 37,000 students from 140+ countries, we offer world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work-life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more . Our Northumbria Values, co-created by our team, define who we are: Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition. Our Behaviours shape our work culture: We listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on-campus organisation and offer flexible hours and location where the role allows. We pride ourselves on diversity and inclusivity, holding numerous awards for gender and race equality, disability confidence, and research excellence. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.  The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process. Apply now and join a community committed to transforming society and the economy. Explore " Our Exceptional People , Our Values and Behaviours " page to learn more about our commitments and see our Privacy Policy for further details.