Post-Study: Post-Doctoral Researcher Call Out

Post-Study Recruitment FAQ

When is the 9-month period of research undertaken?

The 9-month research period begins following the successful recruitment of the Post-Doctoral candidate. 

Applications are due 20 February 2026. Interviews will take place the first or second week of March 2026. Ideally, the candidate can start from April 2026 with the 9-month period beginning in April 2026 and ending in December 2026. LADA and QMUL understand that there may be necessary delays in on-boarding and/or previously scheduled events in the candidates life that requires the research period timeline to shift. 

In creating your application, articulate when you can start and identify milestones for a 9-month period from that date, recognising a final schedule will be agreed during contracting.

What does Post-Doctoral Status mean in this context?

LADA’s previous research project (2021’s Live Art Sector Research) identified multiple gaps in provision for post-doctoral students in visual arts and performance. As such, LADA and QMUL are interested in a researcher (early- or mid- career) who is completing (submission and or viva between February 2026 and April 2026) or has completed (no stipulation on completion date) a PhD in an appropriate field of study. 

If you are completing a PhD by April 2026 you can submit an application. If you have obtained a PhD prior to April 2026 you can submit an application.

What does the partnership between LADA and QMUL mean for the Researcher’s employment status?

The successful candidate will be employed by LADA  as a freelancer. QMUL’s Department of Drama and English are partnering in an advisory capacity. 

Candidates will have their researcher supervised by Dr Martin O’Brien (QMUL) and Mary Osborn (LADA). 

Through our partnership, the successful candidate will have access to QMUL’s physical and digital library resources. 

How should my CV be formatted and included in the application pack?

Your CV can be academic or narrative. 

Your CV should be a separate attachment to the 3-page proposal and can be any length appropriate to demonstrate your experience and skills.

Can I be based outside London? Is there London weighting?

Applicants can be based anywhere in the UK but should articulate how they will deliver the research in a hybrid manner. Any costs related to travel will need to be considered and included in the proposal, no matter where a candidate resides.

Can you clarify the budget for the project?

There are two pots of money that you need to consider for your application.

The research fee (£20,000). This includes the Researcher’s fee for the 9-month period, any contractors they want to pay to support their research plan, and any personnel or contractors, travel/accommodation/hospitality costs (including per diems during travel). You do not need to budget for venues for the roundtables or 1:1 meetings. You will have access to LADA’s venue and QMUL’s BLOC for these.

The engagement and distribution pot (£4,300). This budget has been broken down to support engagement across the research period and distribution. You can identify how you want to use each budget line.

• Marketing & Distribution – these funds need to cover marketing of the survey and round tables AND distribution of the final report. It is not advisable to print copies of the final report; you should consider digital distribution methods.
• Hospitality – these funds should be allocated against roundtables and 1:1s.
  You do not need to budget for venues for the roundtables or 1:1 meetings. You will have access to LADA’s venue and QMUL’s BLOC for these.
• Honorariums – these funds should be used for 1:1 meetings with key stakeholders and should be a minimum of £50 and a maximum of £150.
• Access budget – these funds are earmarked for candidates to identify any costs related to making the research project more accessible for themselves. Any additional access costs for the research will need to be identified within the £20k research fee.
• Admin Support/Contingency – This is a required contingency of funds that can be distributed across the other budget lines. Should you require some support for admin you can pay freelancers from this pot.

Can I use the £20k research envelope to hire other researchers, contractors, or administrators?

Yes, if you want to use part of the £20k research fee envelope to contract an administrator, other researchers or freelancers with skills that will support your research plan. 

You should consider how you want to use the secondary pot of funds that are earmarked for distribution and engagement purposes. For example, if you wanted to hire a graphic designer to support the design of the final report, you might identify part of the marketing budget for this type of work. If you wanted to hire a data analyst to support quantitative review of the survey output, these funds would come from the £20k research fee envelope and should be identified. 

Remember that there is a £600 contingency built into the engagement and distribution pot.

The call for submissions notes “Venues” available for the research period, what does this mean?

LADA and QMUL are partnering to deliver this research. You can use LADA’s venue (The Garrett Centre) or QMUL (BLOC) to schedule roundtables and or use these venues as offices (schedule agreed during onboarding).

You do NOT need to budget for these venues. We have agreed 3 x events at LADA and 3 x events at QMUL, with additional space/time for you to work at the venues as necessary.