JOB: Chair in Applied Social Sciences (Sport), Durham University

Chair in Applied Social Sciences (Sport)
School of Applied Social Sciences
Durham University

For full description, see:
       https://jobs.dur.ac.uk/jobdtls.asp?Session_in=&Uid=&vref=3325


The School of Applied Social Sciences is seeking to appoint a Professor of Applied Social Sciences (Sport and Social Policy). We welcome applications from candidates with research and teaching specialisms in social policy, sport, health or physical activity. The post offers exceptional opportunities for the successful candidate to lead the development of sport research in ways that capitalise on links with other research themes in the School, including social policy, health, crime, identity, globalisation and regeneration.

The School of Applied Social Sciences is a multidisciplinary School that includes Sport, Sociology, Community and Youth Work, and Social Work. Our research has a particular focus on the application of social science concepts and methods to understanding and informing social policy and professional practice. There are internationally-leading clusters of research on new technologies, professional practice and development, and complex systems. The successful candidate will provide academic leadership in an area of the School’s work that fosters further integration of our subjects and research areas.

We are a multidisciplinary School, with highly-ranked subject specialisms in Sociology, Criminology, Sport, Social Work, and Community and Youth Work. Our undergraduate programmes in Sociology, Criminology and Sport are among the most popular in the UK.

The quality of our research in the School of Applied Social Sciences has been formally recognised by the Research Assessment Exercise 2008 - a rigorous procedure designed to assess research activities at every UK university.

In the recent exercise, 90% of research in the School was rated as of international significance with 60% being internationally excellent or of world leading originality, significance and rigour in its Unit of Assessment (Social Policy and Social Work). The School's "excellent active and vital research culture" was highlighted, along with our outstanding international collaborations, interdisciplinarity and impact on policy and practice.

Thirty per cent of our students are postgraduates, either training for a professional qualification or undertaking research for a Masters degree or PhD. We have three ESRC-recognised taught Masters programmes in Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, and a large group of research students attracted by working with our world-class academics, either self-funded or supported by bursaries.

We offer the opportunity to study in the outstandingly beautiful city of Durham and at one of the country's top universities, the third oldest in England. Our ethos, however, is contemporary and applied. Our aim is to enable every one of our students to fulfill their potential: many are now in key positions in government, public services, business, universities and the media. There is a highly developed research culture, with a large group of postgraduate students studying for Masters degrees and doctorates. Our research is interdisciplinary and often informs policy and practice. Our new Masters in Professional Practice, for example, is specially designed for professionals to undertake work-based projects for a research dissertation, and a new taught Masters in Managing Community Practice has been developed for those working to improve the welfare of local communities.

About Sport within SASS:

The BA Sport degree was first introduced in 2004. It is a multidisciplinary degree covering a wide range of sport-related topics including Sports Policy, Sports Development, Sociology of Sport, Sport and Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology and Anatomy, Research Methods, Sport and Exercise Psychology and Media Analysis. There is potential for further development of Sport programmes, including postgraduate provision and an expansion of research students.

Research is currently undertaken in the areas of media representations of national identity and
football-related disorder; risk, pain and injury in physical activity; issues of work-life balance and
athletic careers; comparative sports policy analysis, life-long participation; physical activity,
obesity, free living populations; mental imagery and performance; dance and alternative
movement; sport and alcohol, and applied research as it relates to sport and health inequities,
disadvantage and refugee and asylum seeking communities.

Further information is available at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/sass/sport

Research
The quality of research in the School of Applied Social Sciences was formally recognised by the Research Assessment Exercise 2008. 90% of research in the School was rated as of international significance with 60% being internationally excellent or of world leading originality, significance and rigour in its Unit of Assessment (Social Policy and Social Work).

This post will be a crucial appointment in the strategic development of research activity in Sport under the Research Excellence Framework and will play a central role in developing a distinctive research identity for Sport at Durham as a centre of excellence in sport and policy-related research.

Application Process:
We prefer to receive applications on-line. Please attach your CV and a covering letter, giving details of how you match the person specification. The job description and person specification can be found by following the links from the left-hand menu. We can post a vacancy details pack (including application form) to you, if you telephone our answering service on 
            0191 3346499
or e-mail recruitment.team@durham.ac.uk

Closing Date for Applications:  25/08/2009