13/03/2026
PhD Opportunity
This is a fantastic position for anyone looking to further their career in academia within the Counselling field:
"We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Academic Associate to undertake a PhD looking at what therapeutic support is available, and might be developed for trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. The role is designed to provide an opportunity for a mix of teaching and research. You will be part of the wider counselling team and undertake teaching across a variety of settings, including small group skills sessions/seminars, lectures, assessments, and marking".
The Research:
This project seeks to better understand trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming experiences in counselling and mental health settings. A particular focus will be in developing training or a toolkit for the sector which takes a trauma-informed approach. We are looking for a candidate who will be able to take the lead and steer this project in a community-informed direction.
We anticipate this would be pursued using Participatory Action Research and coproduction methodologies. It is hoped that the research will not only feed into the body of literature concerned with supporting individuals from this community but also service development for the York St John Communities Centre.
Required Skills and Experience:
The successful candidate will hold a professional qualification and be a member of a relevant professional body, such as BACP, NMC or SWE.
The successful candidate will hold an honours degree (2:1 or above) and a postgraduate masters degree (or working towards this) from a UK HEI, or an internationally recognised equivalent. The degree must be in a discipline that is relevant to the research.
Key Attributes:
Knowledge and experience to teach on counselling and mental health modules
Understanding of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming contexts, experiences and complexities
Ability to engage in creative, participatory and inclusive research methodologies
A proven ability to work well both independently and with others in a research environment
A high standard of written English and the ability to communicate clearly in both academic (within the university setting) and non-academic contexts (with community groups) where and when appropriate
Department: School of Education, Language and Psychology
Location: York
Salary: £34,610 to £39,906 per annum pro rata
Contract Duration: 3-4 years
Hours: 18.5
Closing Date: Sunday 29 March 2026 at midnight
Interview Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Reference: 034-26
Part time fixed termLocation: YorkSalary: £34,610 to £39,906 per annum (£17,305 to £19,953 pro rata)Introduction to YSJ universityYork St John is an ambitious, modern university at the heart of historic York and there has...
