Fellowship Opportunity: in Learning Disability and/or Autism

The Group is part of the Department of Social Care and Social Work, a department committed to excellence in both education and research, that makes a positive impact on society. The group comprises international experts in wide-ranging areas related to learning disability and autism including love and intimacy, digital use, everyday lives and belonging, growing older, the mental wellbeing of older family carers, experiences of social care on the margins and health inequalities.

The group has strong networks across the UK with self-advocacy groups, family carers, third sector organisations in health and social care, the Care Quality Commission, NHS England, politicians, policy makers, human rights experts and journalists. We work extensively with colleagues across the UK and internationally including in Ireland, Australia and Canada. This relatively new group is developing a strong reputation and hosts several large NIHR projects, using cutting edge methodologies and innovative and bold collaborative approaches. Our work is underpinned by strong ethical and social justice values.

About the role: 

• To undertake world-leading and internationally excellent research using latest and innovative methodologies, as relevant in your area of research. 

• To prepare, present and publish research outputs through the appropriate forums. 

• To develop ideas for generating income to ensure the continued success and growth of research portfolio.  

• To disseminate findings of research widely to further the institution’s standing in the HE and research community and strengthen the impact of the research.

About the candidate: 

You are a committed, ambitious researcher eager to develop your own body of work in the broad area of learning disability and/or autism. With a doctoral-level qualification in a relevant social science or cognate discipline, including Social Care, Sociology, Politics, Health, Social Policy, you will be an innovator in participatory and/or creative research methods.

Requirements: 

• Doctoral level qualification in a related research area. 

• Possess breadth or depth of specialist knowledge and demonstrate potential for research independence.

• Excellent track record of relevant research outputs. 

• Significant research experience in the chosen field of research, which should include where appropriate: 
  • leading the work of a team, co-ordinating effort and resources to meet objectives 
  • developing partnerships with internal and external agencies 
  • preparing funding proposals and applications to external bodies 
  • using initiative, creativity and judgement to develop appropriate approaches to research 
  • synthesising complex data from different sources and communicating findings via written reports and articles 
  • presenting at national and/or international research meetings 
  • supervising student work and providing appropriate support and feedback. 

• Experience of managing and monitoring performance of research projects in multi-disciplinary teams.

• Ability to manage projects involving academic institutions and funding bodies. 

Please refer to the Job Description & Person Specification for a full list of essential & desirable criteria. 

Academic Contact: Prof Sara Ryan (Sara.Ryan@mmu.ac.uk) or Professor Chris Hatton C.Hatton@mmu.ac.uk to discuss the fellowship opportunity in detail. 

Closing Date: 29 May 2024 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on researchfellowships@mmu.ac.uk    

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