Host organisation: The InFrame Project
Project title: Interrogating the Viva: Making PhD assessment more equitable, fair and inclusive
Project description

The InFrame project is a Wellcome Trust-funded collaborative project between the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Edinburgh, with SGSAH and SGSSS acting as external partners. The project aims to develop an inclusive framework for research leadership that aims at creating positive culture change.  Together in partnership with InFrame, SGSAH is delighted to support this three-month internship opportunity for a doctoral researcher to support establishing ways in which the PhD viva process might be made more accessible and inclusive. 

The successful researcher will be supported by Dr Anindya Raychaudhuri, EDI Lead for SGSAH, in order to identify ways in which the PhD viva process could be made more accessible and inclusive. This will involve running three public workshops on the following topics: 

Diversifying PhD Examiners (hybrid) 

What factors currently determine who gets nominated as PhD examiners? How might this reinforce structural barriers when it comes to defining research leaders? 

PhD assessment: International Perspectives (online) 

Panellists from different national contexts will be asked to critically reflect on what works well in their systems, and what could be improved, particularly with EDI in mind. 

EDI and the PhD Viva (hybrid) 

The final panel will imagine a scenario in which the viva was being introduced as a substantive new measure. Under such circumstances, we would expect to have an Equalities Impact Assessment. What might this look like? 

The successful candidate may also be involved in putting together a set of draft recommendations for ways in which universities can make the PhD examination process more equitable, fair and inclusive. 

Outputs

Design and delivery of three hybrid public roundtable discussion events and where the successful candidate is involved in drafting recommendations as output. 

Location
We are flexible in terms of working practices. The work can be predominantly done remotely, with regular supervisory meetings on Teams/Zoom.
Benefits to the researcher
  • Practical experience working with a dynamic team within a fast-moving and multi-faceted environment 
  • Developing clearer insight into EDI issues in the UK HE sector. 
  • Developing clearer insight into the PhD viva process in the UK HE sector 
  • Practical experience of designing and delivering roundtables on matters related to EDI in the context of Higher Education.   
  • Widening network of key contacts and engaging with wide range of individuals and organisations 
  • Flexibility of approach.  

Skills include:  

  • Applying self-direction and motivation 
  • Solution-focused approach 
  • Well-developed written and oral communication 
  • Understanding and synthesising concepts and ideas quickly 
  • Responsiveness to needs of partners and stakeholders 
  • Teamwork, skill sharing and support with a wide range of people. 
Key relationships

The intern will potentially work with many of the project’s and SGSAH’s stakeholders – academics, other PGR students, Early Career Researchers, professional services colleagues, Industry Partners, etc. 

Timescale

Start date (or must start by): Flexible 

End date (or must end by): June 1st 2025  

Work structure examples include:

  • Single block of 12 weeks 
  • Multiple shorter blocks
  • Longer less intensive engagement, e.g. one day per week, one week per month 
  • Mixture of the above. – Flexible based on the intern’s other commitments 
Subject areas

This opportunity would be relevant to all subject areas within the Arts & Humanities.

Person specification

A1. Knowledge Base
  • Essential: Subject Knowledge; Research methods – theoretical knowledge; Research methods – Practical application; Information Seeking; Information literacy and management; Academic literacy and numeracy.
  • Desirable: Languages.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
  • Essential: Analysing; Synthesising; Evaluating; Critical thinking; Problem Solving.
A3. Creativity
  • Essential: Inquiring minds; Intellectual insight; Innovation; Argument construction; Intellectual risk.
B1. Personal qualities
  • Essential: Enthusiasm; Perseverance; Integrity; Self-confidence; Self-reflection; Responsibility.
B2. Self management
  • Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Commitment to research; Time management; Responsiveness to change.
B3. Professional & career development
  • Desirable: Continuing professional development; Networking; Responsiveness to opportunities; Reputation and esteem.
C1. Professional conduct
  • Essential: Ethics, principles and sustainability; Respect and confidentiality; Attribution and co-authorship; Appropriate practice.
  • Desirable: Health and Safety; Legal requirements; IPR and copyright.
C2. Research management
  • Essential:  Project planning and delivery.
  • Desirable: Research Strategy; Risk management.
D1. Working with others
  • Essential: Collegiality; Team working; Collaboration; Equality and diversity.
  • Desirable: People management.
D2. Communication & dissemination
  • Essential: Communication methods.
D3. Engagement & impact
  • Essential: Public Engagement; Policy; Society and culture; Global citizenship.
  • Desirable: Teaching; Enterprise.

First published: 9 October 2025

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