Research Associate - Empowering Young Elite Athletes

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY; Loughborough; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent UK university in Loughborough is seeking a part-time Research Associate to explore the voices of elite youth athletes. The role involves qualitative research design, including interviews and focus groups, to enhance athlete participation in sports decision-making. The candidate should have a background in sport and children's rights, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Qualifications

• Ideal candidate must have a background in sport and children's rights.
• Must demonstrate the ability to work independently and with teams.
• Knowledge of qualitative research methods required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct semi-structured interviews with young elite athletes.
• Facilitate focus groups to gather athletes' perspectives.
• Investigate engagement mechanisms of sport organizations.

Skills

Research and practice background in sport

Knowledge of research with children

Ability to work independently

Team collaboration skills

Ability to meet deadlines

Job description

School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Part-time (0.1 FTE, 3.7 hrs per week); Fixed-term to 31st August 2027

We are looking for a Research Associate to work on our project, funded by International Olympic Committee (IOC). The project focuses on elite youth (under 18) athletes' voices, as one of the priority areas of the IOC, by putting young elite athletes at the centre of its research design and process. Conceptually, the project is based on children's rights of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the right to be heard under Article 12 of the Convention, a key general cross-cutting principle and participation right standard, is at the centre of the conceptualisation of 'voice' in the project. The project will utilises the Lundy model of child participation as its analytical framework to guide the project. Through these conceptual lenses, the project aims to critically investigate how existing engagement mechanisms by sport organisations not only providing spaces but also facilitating influence of young athlete voice in decision-making. The project involves a robust qualitative research design, incorporating semi-structured interviews, and focus groups as methods, to explore the nuanced perspectives and experiences of young elite athletes and the representatives of sport organisations concerning athlete voice in the Olympic movement. Overall, the project aims to advance young elite athlete voice to promote and lead to a more inclusive and athlete-centred sporting environments.

The ideal candidate will have a research and practice background in sport and children's rights; knowledge of the research with children; a capacity to work on their own initiative and in teams; and a capacity to work to deadlines.

This part-time post is offered on a fixed-term contract until 31st August 2027.

For more information on the role please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Serhat Yilmaz, Senior Lecturer in Sports Law, via email to [e-mail] or by telephone to 01509 228163.

Closing Date: 24 August 2025

Loughborough University is committed to allowing its employees to work dynamically with a combination of working on campus and remotely, where possible. This has been identified as a role that could work dynamically and, if successful, your line manager will discuss these informal arrangements with you. Please note that there is a general expectation that the successful candidate will spend the majority of time working on the Loughborough campus.