Senior Research Fellow - COMMON ACCESS

Are you interested in improving access to opportunities, services and amenities in suburban, peri-urban and rural areas? Would you like your research to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable communities?

The University of Westminster is a leading modern university with a strong commitment to research, innovation and real-world impact. The School of Architecture + Cities brings together expertise in planning, transport, sustainability and the built environment to address contemporary urban challenges.

We are seeking a Senior Research Fellow (Maternity Cover, 0.24 FTE) to join the ESRC-funded COMMON_ACCESS project.

COMMON_ACCESS explores how accessibility can be understood and delivered as a shared social good. Working with academic, local authority and community partners, the project investigates community-led approaches to improving accessibility in suburban, peri-urban and rural areas.

This fixed-term role offers an opportunity to contribute to the final stages of an innovative research project addressing accessibility, mobility and social inclusion.

You will support research, stakeholder engagement, dissemination and impact activities, helping to ensure the successful completion of the project and the communication of its findings to academic, policy and practice audiences.

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Contribute to an ESRC-funded research project with real-world impact.
• Work with academic, policy and community partners.
• Support research that informs future accessibility and mobility policy and practice.
• Contribute to project dissemination, impact and legacy activities.
• Join a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.

You will hold a PhD, or be close to completion, in a relevant discipline such as Transport Studies, Urban Planning, Geography, Architecture, Sustainability, Social Sciences or a related field. Equivalent research experience will also be considered.

You will bring:

• Experience of designing and conducting high-quality research.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Experience of producing publications, reports or policy-focused outputs.
• Experience of working with external stakeholders.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research team.
• An interest in accessibility, sustainable mobility, social inclusion and place-based planning.

Experience of externally funded research projects, community-engaged research, knowledge exchange activities or accessibility-related research would be advantageous.

If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute to research that supports more accessible, inclusive and sustainable places, we would welcome your application.

At the University of Westminster, diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity are at the core of how we engage with students, colleagues, applicants, visitors and all our stakeholders.

We are fully committed to enabling a supportive and safe learning and working environment which is equitable, diverse and inclusive, is based on mutual respect and trust, and in which harassment and discrimination are neither tolerated nor acceptable.

To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply’ above. Further information can be found in the job description and person specification, which can be accessed through link to the right of the page.

Closing date: 11.59pm on 19 November 2026

Interviews are anticipated to be held on w/c 30 November 2026

Administrative contact: [email protected]

Project administrator: [email protected]