Research Assistant

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
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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).

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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. 

To contribute to our communications channels through the lens of a London Met student; gathering relevant and creative content that will inform and engage, thinking about what you and your peers want and need to know from London Met. The Student Communications Ambassador will serve as an advocate for London Met, assisting the student communications team to engage with our current students and wider London Met community. 

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• Assisting with administrative tasks such as On Campus newsletter and T4 (our intranet) 
• Attending meetings and appropriate training sessions to generate ideas 
• Gathering content from across the University, speaking to your peers and the schools for inspiration 
• Creating multi-channel content for our channels, especially social media 

Recruiting medical students from year two and above to assist with an arts-based educational project about the emotional and attitudinal impact of learning in the dissection room. The project will culminate in theatrical performances in the Gordon Museum and a public theatre (20-26 February 2024). Your role may include some or all of the following, depending on your skills, availability and interests:

-conducting interviews with first year students about their experiences of dissection (second year onwards/training provided)
-sharing your experience of dissection/the DR with artists involved in the project, attending rehearsals to give feedback on work in progress
-promoting the performance to the medical student and staff community within King's and other medical schools
-attending the performances, featuring on and facilitating post-show discussions and speaking to press/media 
-assisting with gathering responses and feedback from audiences who attend the performance (may include leading focus groups).
 

The work averages about an hour per week, but may come in intense periods. 
 

You will work with the project lead who is an academic member of staff on the Values Based Clinical Practice strand (and also runs a theatre company called Chimera) and a professional theatre producer. Dissection Room and Anatomy staff are also closely involved in the project. More information here: https://alexmermikides.com/drama-of-dissection)
 

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-an interest in the topic of anatomy and dissection, especially the emotional dimensions of this. Good understanding of the regulations around the use of human tissue in education and research and appropriate attitudes and sensitivity to this topic
-an interest in theatre or the arts. previous experience of the arts an advantage, especially arts production such as marketing, publicity, audience surveys.
-excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to interact with people from different sectors (medical education, artists, general public) and to express yourself confidently in public settings
-previous experience of interviewing or running focus groups an advantage.
-organised, responsible and able to work independently to deadlines.