DPhil Student Research Assistant (Adoption Experiences Project)

Casual Contract (remote working) Approx. 30 hours from September 2026 to May 2027

Closing date: Friday 10 July Part of the

Sheila Kitzinger Programme (SKP)

About Green Templeton College

Green Templeton College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. We are a graduate college with approximately 650 students, 300 Fellows and 90 members of staff, aiming to lead the way in postgraduate education. Our intellectual agenda focuses on issues relating to human welfare. We are international in membership and outlook, and lively and supportive in spirit. We are a truly contemporary college: friendly, informal, outward-looking, and future-focused, all in a traditional Oxford setting.

About the Project

The Collaborative Solutions for Adoptive Family Wellbeing project aims to engage participants in discussions about adoption and family life, generate insights from lived experience, and develop resources to support professionals and families. The successful candidate will work closely with the project team to support participant engagement, digital platform administration, content synthesis, and resource development.

This role is funded through the Sheila Kitzinger Programme and will support an interdisciplinary project focused on adoption experiences, research and practice in England.

This position would particularly suit a DPhil student with an interest in social care, adoption, family studies, social policy, or related fields.

Main Purpose of the Role

We are seeking a DPhil Student Research Assistant to provide administrative, organisational, and research support to the project throughout the 2026–27 academic year.

The role will involve supporting participant engagement through a shared digital platform, assisting with the organisation and synthesis of participant-generated content, and helping to produce accessible resources for use by professionals and families. The successful candidate will be expected to handle potentially sensitive material with professionalism and discretion and will receive appropriate guidance and support from the project team.

This flexible, part-time position offers an opportunity to gain experience of applied research, public engagement, and interdisciplinary project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Assist with administration and participant engagement on a shared digital platform.
• Communicate with participants via email in a professional, respectful, and sensitive manner.
• Monitor and organise participant-generated content and discussions.
• Collate, organise, and summarise information shared by participants.
• Assist with the qualitative synthesis of participant contributions and discussions.
• Support the development of accessible resources and dissemination materials for online and print use.
• Use Canva or similar software to create digital communications and project materials.
• Complete any required project training relating to ethics, safeguarding, cultural awareness, confidentiality, and conflict management.
• Attend supervision meetings with the project team as required.
• Undertake other duties reasonably required to support the successful delivery of the project.

Person Specification

Essential

• Current DPhil/doctoral student status (normally Year 2 or above).
• Excellent organisational and ability to manage information accurately and systematically.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and concise summaries of information for different audiences.
• Ability to work independently and manage tasks flexibly across the academic year.
• Experience using Canva or similar software to create digital and print materials.
• Sensitivity, professionalism, and discretion when working on topics relating to family life, care, and adoption.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work empathetically and professionally with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to identify and escalate concerns appropriately when working with potentially sensitive participant material.
• Willingness to complete online training modules relating to ethical and cultural awareness and conflict management before commencing the role.
• Ability to work with digital platforms and databases to manage project information.
• Strong attention to detail when organising, reviewing, and summarising information.

Desirable

• Knowledge of, or experience in, social work, adoption, family policy, children’s services, or related fields.
• Experience working with participant-generated content.
• Experience of public engagement or knowledge exchange activities.
• Interest in research relating to families, care, social policy, or human welfare.
• Knowledge of data protection principles and GDPR requirements.
• Experience using spreadsheets or other tools to organise and track project activity.
• Experience supporting the administration of research or public engagement projects.
• Experience of working within a collaborative team.

Terms and Conditions

Contract

The postholder will be employed by Green Templeton College on a casual contract for the duration of the project.

Duration

September 2026 to May 2027.

Hours

Flexible working hours will be agreed with the successful candidate. Approximately 30 hours of work will be available between September 2026 and May 2027, with tasks expected to be undertaken throughout the academic year in line with project needs.

Reporting to:

Dr Ruth Scobie, Academic Development and Programmes Facilitator and Dr Jennifer Ginger, Director of The Adoption Collaborative

Working Environment

This role is home-based and can be undertaken remotely. Successful applicants will be required to comply with Green Templeton College’s arrangements for homeworking and may be asked to complete a homeworking workstation assessment before commencing work.

A laptop and any necessary equipment required for the role will be provided by the college and must be returned at the end of the contract.

The role may involve reviewing participant-generated material that contains potentially sensitive or emotionally challenging content. Appropriate supervision and support will be provided throughout the project.

Pay

£21.56 per hour (equivalent to Grade 6.1), inclusive of holiday pay.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Green Templeton welcomes applications from people from all sections of the community. We encourage applications from candidates from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, candidates with disabilities, and those from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

How to Apply

Please submit the following:

• A CV outlining your educational background and relevant experience.
• A covering letter (maximum 500 words) explaining your interest in the role and demonstrating how you meet the selection criteria.
• The names and contact details of two referees.

Applications should be sent to hr@gtc.ox.ac.uk by Friday 10 July at 12:00 noon.

Remote interviews will take place in the week commencing Monday 20 July.

Further details about the project can be found on the Sheila Kitzinger Programme website.

Data Protection

All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the College’s Data Protection Policy.