Vacancy Announcement at the South East European Research Centre (SEERC)

The South East European Research Centre (SEERC) seeks candidates for the following position:  

Research Associate (RA) for “RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (RRI) (RA/RRI/2018)

The South East European Research Centre (SEERC) is a multidisciplinary, not-for-profit research centre based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The centre was founded by the International Faculty of the University of Sheffield, CITY College in 2004, as an international research institute with the mission to support the stable and peaceful development of South-East Europe by conducting pure and applied research and policy analysis in, and for the region. In this direction, SEERC employs the existing research capacities of The University of Sheffield and its International Faculty and develops multi-disciplinary networks of researchers across South-East Europe. More information can be found at: www.seerc.org

Description

Responsible Research and Innovation RRI (according to the EC): “RRI is an inclusive approach to research and innovation (R&I), to ensure that societal actors work together during the whole research and innovation process. It aims to better align both the process and outcomes of R&I, with the values, needs and expectations of European society. In general terms, RRI implies anticipating and assessing potential implications and societal expectations with regard to research and innovation. In practice, RRI consists of designing and implementing R&I policy that will:

• engage society more broadly in its research and innovation activities,
• increase access to scientific results,
• ensure gender equality, in both the research process and research content,
• take into account the ethical dimension, and
• promote formal and informal science education.”

SEERC is involved in the following RRI projects, funded under the “Science with and for Society” part of Horizon 2020:

• FIT4RRI: Fostering Improved Training Tools For Responsible Research and Innovation (on-going project; https://fit4rri.eu/) 
• TeRRItoria: TErritorial Responsible Research and Innovation ThrOugh the involvement of local R&IActors (new project)
• GRACE: Grounding RRI Actions to Achieve Institutional Changes in European Research Funding and Performing Organisations (new project)

The Research Associate will work in direct cooperation with the SEERC director and contribute to the development of the projects TeRRItoria and GRACE with limited input on the project FIT4RRI. The RA will participate in all project activities, prepare reports and journal articles, engage with project partners, coordinate research and support activities within the framework of these projects and contribute to the promotion of RRI principles in the European Research Area.

Duration: 36 months. Indicative starting date: November 1^st, 2018

The candidate will be expected to:

• Develop an understanding of the theory and practice of the RRI concept
• Further advance RRI principles 
• Demonstrate a capacity to develop SEERC’s agenda within the “Science with and for Society – SwafS” H2020 Program   
• Develop high quality scientific publications based on the projects’ implementation
• Contribute in informing teaching at the International Faculty with the results of the projects

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• University graduate with a Social Sciences or Engineering degree and a relevant Masters degree
• A PhD in relative subject area will be an asset.
• Minimum 2 years of research experience. Experience working on FP7 and H2020 projects will be an asset  
• Project management experience is desirable.
• Ability to create and sustain networks.
• Excellent communication skills. 
• Excellent command of English is essential. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 8^th OCTOBER 2018

How to apply: Applications including cover letter (explaining your interest, and suitability for this vacancy) and curriculum vitae should be forwarded electronically to: contact@seerc.org. When applying please quote reference: RA/RRI/2018.