Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities

Host organisation: British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BAECRN)

Project title: Belonging - BAECRN x SGSAH Research Internship

Project description

The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BAECRN) is a UK-wide network for and by Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences researchers. It seeks to bring SHAPE researchers across the UK together to provide opportunities for community and development. It is managed by regional clusters.

The BAECRN Scotland Cluster is seeking to conduct research into how it can create and sustain a greater feeling of belonging and support for its diverse researchers.

Your tasks on the project will be to:

  • design and facilitate workshops with the membership of the Scotland Cluster of the BAECRN using creative methods to interview and capture perspectives on EDI and belonging in the BAECRN in Scotland (you will be supported in recruitment)
  • collate and interpret the recorded interviews
  • present the findings to the Scotland Consortium (the membership of the BAECRN in Scotland which comprises delivery partners and ECR members) which will then be used to make recommendations for future activity.
  • present the research outputs as a package which can be shared with collaborators, delivery partners and other members of the BAECRN
  • the project would be well-suited, but is not limited, to someone with experience in oral history, mixed methods, creative practice, or those who have previously coordinated focus groups and interviews.

You will receive a mentor to support methodological design, ethics, interpretation and presentation of the findings.

You will have a counterpart in this internship who will be doing their PhD in the Arts and Humanities and will be tasked with designing a survey that addresses the same questions. To generate triangulated, mixed methods findings you will be expected to work with them on the design of the data collection and outputs.

The BAECRN Scotland Cluster is particularly interested in receiving applications from those who have not previously held an internship. It is also seeking to redress imbalances in our sector and encourages applications from those with lived experience, especially those from underrepresented and or minority communities and working-class backgrounds. In order to capture a diversity of voices in this research we are particularly keen that it is undertaken by a researcher whose lived experience supports them to connect to the challenges faced by minoritised ECR.

Outputs

  1. A report (the format for which will be discussed through the duration of the project) which can be shared with members of the BAECRN, British Academy and project leads – UK wide.
  2. A presentation of your findings to the Scotland Consortium (representation of all 19 HEIs across Scotland) at an in-person meeting (date tbc)
  3. There may also be an opportunity to publish your findings (TBC) externally to the project.

In person/remote/hybrid

Hybrid.

Mostly online, with the expectation that you will attend one in-person meeting to present your ideas to the wider Researcher Development Team – the date and time will be discussed with the line manager on appointment. And one in-person consortium meeting (most likely June 2027) to present the findings and project outcomes.

Benefits to the researcher

The researcher will:

  • have the opportunity to work closely with another PG researcher from a different discipline and to co-design the research
  • work with a mentor who will help them to adapt and deepen their knowledge of their chosen methodology
  • have the opportunity to build professional connections with fellow ECRs
  • gain insight into Researcher Development and Research Culture (this is the team where the intern will be based)
  • have the opportunity to interact directly with the British Academy and to gain understanding of funding bodies from a different perspective
  • design their own project with clear, articulated outcomes
  • receive feedback on their work and an opportunity to engage with reflective practice in a professional setting

Key relationships

  • British Academy
  • Research Culture and Researcher Development Team at the University of Glasgow
  • ECRs in the SHAPE disciplines currently based in or working at Scottish HEIs
  • Research professionals across Scottish HEIs
  • Other interns working across different projects (not only research)

Subject areas

This opportunity would be relevant to the following subject areas:

Creative Arts and Design; Cultural and Museum Studies; History; Law and Legal Studies; Linguistics; Media, Comms, Film & TV; Modern Languages; Philosophy; Literatures.

Person specification

A1. Knowledge Base
  • Essential: Research methods – theoretical knowledge; Research methods – Practical application; Academic literacy and numeracy.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
  • Essential: Analysing; Synthesising; Critical thinking; Evaluating; Problem Solving.
A3. Creativity
  • Desirable: Inquiring minds; Intellectual insight; Innovation.
B1. Personal qualities
  • Essential: Enthusiasm; Perseverance; Integrity; Self-confidence; Self-reflection; Responsibility.
B2. Self management
  • Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Time management.
B3. Professional & career development
  • Essential: Continuing professional development; Networking.
C1. Professional conduct
  • Essential: Respect and confidentiality; Appropriate practice.
  • Desirable: Ethics, principles and sustainability.
C2. Research management
  • Essential: Project planning and delivery.
D1. Working with others
  • Essential: Collegiality; Team working; Collaboration; Equality and diversity.
D2. Communication & dissemination
  • Essential: Communication methods.
  • Desirable: Publication.
D3. Engagement & impact
  • Desirable: Public Engagement; Policy; Society and culture.

First published: 28 September 2026

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