Post Doctoral Research Assistant

Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking institution as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a groundbreaking project focused on community connectedness through football in post-industrial towns. You will engage in qualitative research, analyzing intergenerational experiences and contributing to impactful public policy. Collaborate with esteemed academics and local organizations to enhance social cohesion and resilience in communities. If you are passionate about sociology and its application to real-world issues, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Hold a doctoral level qualification with evidence of continuous professional development.
• Research experience in sociology, anthropology, and political economy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct quality research and detailed analysis, presenting findings to various groups.
• Supervise postgraduate and/or research students, providing necessary training.

Skills

Qualitative Data Analysis

Research Methodology

Sociology of Place

Anthropology

Political Economy

Education

Doctoral Level Qualification

Tools

NVivo

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to join our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences to work on the ESRC funded project – ‘Football, intergenerationality, and place-based community connectedness in post-industrial English towns'.

About the Project:

This fixed-term role offers an outstanding opportunity to contribute to a major project seeking to inform UK public policy research on the future of towns; reimagining place; cultural placemaking; and the levelling up agenda, by providing the first comparative sociological investigation of two post-industrial town-based football clubs as place-based communities in contemporary northern England, using a qualitative framework of biographical interviews and fieldwork methods. The project extends our work on active football fans and generational consciousness, by unpacking how disparities in intergenerational opportunities and attachment to place in two of the most deprived towns in Lancashire and North Yorkshire: Blackburn, and Middlesbrough, and external economic pressures facing town-based clubs outside of the top Premier League division, intersect at the community level.

You will be a key part of a project team which includes Dr Mark Turner (Manchester Metropolitan University), Professor Richard Giulianotti (Loughborough University) and Professor Stacey Pope (Durham University) playing a pivotal role in data collection, analysis and the production of research and knowledge exchange outputs. In partnership with local government; the voluntary community sector; and national football supporters' organisations, we seek to extend knowledge of how post-industrial supporter communities are constituted, and the intergenerational experiences and meanings of place as a key marker of belonging and identity, and apply this knowledge to influence the emerging neo-localism sector in England, to recommend policies and strategies to strengthen social connectedness, community resilience, civic participation, and pride in place.

If you are a post-doc in sociology, heritage studies, political economy, cultural geography with an interest in sport, then we'd be keen to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Undertake quality research and detailed analysis, and present findings to appropriate internal and external groups, such as research forums, conferences, or seminars, as required.
• Contribute to the dissemination of research findings through journals, conferences and seminars, in order to further the institution's standing in the HE and research community.
• Participate in the development of internal and external partnerships and networks in order to disseminate information, share best practice, generate income, establish opportunities for collaborative work, and to enhance the reputation of the University.
• Work with partners and external agencies on collaborative projects that benefit both the department and the Faculty.
• Supervise the work/projects of taught postgraduate and/or research students as required and provide training on techniques appropriate to the role.

Key Requirements:

• Hold a doctoral level qualification, evidence of continuous professional development.
• Proficiency in the application of relevant equipment, software and techniques such as qualitative data analysis using NVivo.
• Possess sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge (sociology of place), to work within established research programmes.
• Research experience in the fields of sociology, anthropology, politics, heritage, critical geography, which should include:
  • making a demonstrable, independent contribution to projects
  • preparing written reports of results

To learn more about role and requirements, please read the Job Description provided below.

Application & Assessment:

• Please submit your CV and Cover Letter via our portal, by clicking "Apply Now"
• For an informal discussion, please contact Dr Mark Turner ([e-mail])
• Successful shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview which will include a presentation, on Tuesday 10 June.

One of the largest research-led science and technology educators in the UK, our Faculty of Science and Engineering offers a world-class teaching environment, covering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. With genuine trailblazing specialisms and global impact, our exceptional research has created an international reputation for making a transformative contribution to the world around us. We deliver work with real-world impact, and cultivate lasting relationships with businesses, the government and the general public to share our innovation and expertise.

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you!

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. We promote applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of background, belief or identity, recognising the benefits that a diverse organisation can bring and particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in the University workforce. We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations about this, as well as any reasonable adjustments required throughout the application process.

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