Hourly-paid Research And Administrative Assistant On Any Poison Or Other Noxious Thing : Testing An

£40,853 - £40,853

Job Description

This is a part time post requiring approx., 7 hours of work per week between January and July 2025; starting in January 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity for a research and administrative assistant (RA) to work alongside Dr Rishita Nandagiri on a new feminist research project titled ?Any Poison or Other Noxious Thing?: Testing and Evidence in Criminal Investigations of Self-Managed Abortions in Great Britain. 

Funded by the KCL Faculty Research and Impact Fund, the post-holder must be available to work on the project from January to July 2025. 

Project Overview: Feminist legal scholars have shown that laws and trials are gendered, reflecting stereotypical ideas of gendered social roles (e.g., motherhood). The use of tests and forensic science in trials reinforces medical, social, and legal power by producing ?evidence? of deviance or transgression. Testing and evidence are a public, disciplining response to moral panics on abortion and its self-management. Forensic science (biological, digital) is not solely material or a fixed entity, but is made through specific legal, social, and technological knowledges and practices. Feminist Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars argue that science, evidence, and expertise are socially constructed, and that courts not only use knowledge but also produce what we know. 

Since 2022, there has been a sharp rise in criminal investigations and prosecutions for ?illegal abortion? in Great Britain. These have included testing for abortion drugs. 

?Any Poison or Other Noxious Thing? aims to understand how abortion pills ?testing? in Great Britain functions as a moralising and disciplining force, reinforcing abortion stigma and acting as a mechanism for reproductive governance. An empirical study, it will take an interdisciplinary, multimethod approach to answer two interlinked questions: (i) How does ?testing? for abortion pills (re)produce abortion-related discourses?, and (ii) How does ?testing? for abortion (re)create ?evidence? and ?proof?? The project engages with critical and feminist approaches in reproduction studies, criminology, STS, law, and forensic science. 

The post holder will: 

  1. Assist with building a reference library of relevant academic and grey literature on the topic 
  2. Support with summarizing key literature 
  3. Identify experts for interviews/as potential collaborators 
  4. Support with basic research administration (e.g., liaising with transcription companies) and data management 
  5. Work closely with PI to complete tasks in agreed timeframes
  6.  

The post holder will also contribute, as needed, to other activities such as meetings, report writing, and presentations. Depending on capacity and interest, there is the possibility of co-authoring research articles as part of this project. The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope, timing, and grading of the post. 

This work will be performed under supervision and in close collaboration with Dr Rishita Nandagiri (KCL).



Qualifications

.



Skills

Essential criteria

  • Studying for a postgraduate (MSc/MA) degree at KCL
  • Demonstrable knowledge of abortion and/or reproduction (in the UK/globally)
  • Demonstrable knowledge of conducting literature reviews
  • Excellent administrative and organisational skills
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills
  • Experience of data management 
  • Aptitude for working collaboratively and willingness to work as part of a team and ability to work independently 
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain good working relationships. 

 

Desirable criteria

  • Experience of conducting a literature review
  • Experience of using reference managers (e.g., Papers, Zotero) 
  • Knowledge of STS, criminology, or forensic science 
  • Understanding of KCL ethics review processes
  • Previous experience of academic writing/publishing 

 

Please submit a (max 700 words) document that briefly sets out:

  • Your understanding of abortion and the role of the law/courts in its governance in the UK,
  • The relevant experience you have for this role, and
  • Why you are interested in working on this project.

Please do not use ChatGPT to respond to these prompts ? it is clear when you do. 

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We are looking for a Technician to support our Nutrition practical classes at the Waterloo Campus. Duties will include the following:

-Being part of the team responsible for organising  the running of practical classes, 

-Help with setting up and clearing out the lab.

-Washing up of glassware using glassware washer, drying in cabinet and returning to lab,

-Refilling chemical bottles when necessary as instructed

-You will need to stay in the class and keep an eye on experiments that need digesting over a few hours while students carry on with another part of the process, and help with running equipment. 

-You will receive training prior to practical classes to make you aware of the hazards and what to look out for in classes, assist with Health and safety and assist students where possible. 

 



Qualifications

Minimum level 3 qualification, e.g. A levels, AS levels, International Baccalaureate diploma or other Level 3 qualification, plus work experience in a relevant technical/scientific post(s) OR Knowledge and skills gained through work experience in relevant technical or scientific posts.



Skills

Experience of practical education in a teaching lab as a student or technician, 

good communication skills and willing to learn.

Solutions-focused self-starter, with good prioritisation and organisational skills.

Flexible team-worker who is responsive to colleagues.

An awareness of Health & Safety regulations governing area of work, particularly relating to laboratory waste disposal and recycling.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Phase 2 Innovate UK-funded CyberASAP project CyDRA aiming to address Risk Assessment in Transactions under Security Threats. This role focuses on the development of a desktop software application to address complex challenges in securing critical infrastructure and industrial systems. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in OT security, IIoT, and software development, with a deep understanding of threat modelling, risk analysis, and security architecture design.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Model Transactions Under Security Threats: Develop software solutions to simulate transactional processes within systems exposed to security threats, enabling an accurate representation of vulnerabilities and attack vectors.
  • Design Security Architecture and Behavior Analysis: Create tools to design and evaluate security solutions, analysing the behaviour of both systems and potential adversaries through simulated transactions.
  • Risk Calculation: Implement algorithms and methodologies to calculate security risks based on input from security analytics, helping stakeholders prioritise and address vulnerabilities effectively.
  • Impact Analysis: Develop capabilities to assess the influence of proposed security infrastructures on overall system risk, ensuring solutions are effective and efficient.

 



Qualifications

First Degree in Cyber Security or closely related discipline
Desirable: Current MSc/PhD in AI or Cyber Security



Skills
  • Proficiency in OT security and IIoT domains, with experience in threat detection, neutralization, and prevention.
  • Expertise in security risk modeling, analysis tools, and simulation methodologies.
  • Strong programming skills in developing desktop applications, with a focus on robust design and user-friendly interfaces.
  • Ability to understand complex industrial processes and integrate them into software models for security infrastructure planning.

Primary duties of this role 

Answering basic enquiries at the Library Enquiry desk, monitoring library spaces and other back-office tasks. These include the re-shelving and tidying of library stock, updating signage and activities to manage and improve our spaces. 

 

Enquiry Desk 

  • Provide a friendly and reassuring welcome to the library spaces 
  • Answer basic enquiries such as how to find a book, directional enquiries etc 
  • Refer queries to the correct team or service (online or in-person) and assist in enquiry data capture 
  • Show users how to use the library self-service machines 

 

Library Stock

  • Re-shelve items returned by library users promptly 
  • Empty book return boxes outside the building 
  • Process returned items 
  • Participate in regular shelf tidying and movement of library stock 

 

Space Monitoring

  • Provide a visible presence in the library 
  • Ensure appropriate and respectful use of library spaces (zones, noise, hot food etc.) 
  • Assist library staff in the sweeping of study spaces to help facilitate the clearing of areas after use 
  • Monitor stock to ensure the collection is well-organised
  • Report any maintenance issues to Estates & Facilities, IT or escalate to library staff 
  • Answer basic enquiries, such as how to find a book, directional enquiries etc.

 

Important Note: 

The 20 hours specified in this advert are a guideline only, not a guarantee: to reflect the changing needs of the service and shelving peaks throughout the academic year, we may offer you a variety of hours each month.  

Available hours are also subject to your availability. We will work around your availability and offer shifts according to service needs across all our libraries. Please note, there is no option to choose a preferred site. You are expected to work at any KCL library (travel zones 1 and 2) when you are available. As this is a frontline role, you are also expected to be very punctual for all your assigned shifts.  

All interviews will be conducted virtually via Teams. 



Qualifications

NONE



Skills

Essential criteria: 

  • Good communication skills 
  • Excellent time management and punctuality  
  • Methodical, detail-oriented approach to work, maintaining a high level of accuracy 
  • Ability to work as part of a team with a proactive, flexible and responsive manner 
  • Ability to perform physically demanding tasks 

 

Desirable: 

  • Knowledge of KCL libraries 
  • Strong customer service skills 
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