Senior Research Associate in Immersive Futures - Centre for Sociodigital Futures

The role

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Research Associate (SRA) to join the ESRC Centre for Sociodigital Futures www.bristol.ac.uk/censof. The Centre is a £10m investment in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research across Social Sciences, Engineering and the Arts. We are seeking four technical experts to join us (as Senior Research Associates) in addressing critical questions about futures that are currently ‘in the making’ across a range of application areas and how these might be tipped towards fair and sustainable ways of life.

The role of this Senior Research Associate will be to explore the future of Immersive Technologies through a series of experimental and future-scoping projects to understand how Immersive Technologies could impact our future within some of our application areas. The Senior Research Associate will be developing these projects collaboratively within an integrated and interdisciplinary research team. 

What will you be doing?

• Playing a leading role (with support) in the design, development and implementation of the Immersive experimental projects;
• Collaborating with researchers from across the Centre to design, co-ordinate and deliver research and other relevant activities;
• Collaborating with the Centre’s strategic partners to develop a programme of research that explores some of their concerns and challenges;
• Playing a leading role (with support) in the preparation of publications, other outputs (including blogs, social media, etc.), and wider impact and engagement. 

You should apply if

You have:

• A PhD in Computer Science, Human-Computer-Interaction, or a closely related technology discipline, or extensive relevant industrial/commercial experience in immersive technologies and a strong research track record in immersive technologies and an ability to innovate.
• Awareness of latest developments in the field of immersive technologies including extensive knowledge, technical skills, and experience in developing engaging immersive experiences, including the ability to use either Unreal and/or Unity games engines.
• Experience of exploring social and political questions around innovation in immersive technologies. This should be underpinned by experience of or interest in researching collaboratively with social researchers and an awareness of the challenges involved.
• Strong written and oral communication skills across a range of formats (including academic outputs, blogposts, workshops and other events) working with cross-sectoral partners (e.g. in industry, government, community organizations).

For further details please see Job Description and Further Particulars.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding for 24 months.

For informal queries please contact Professor Kirsten Cater (line manager) kirsten.cater@bristol.ac.uk  

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineeringincludesme.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/

Interviews are anticipated to be held on 30 April 2024.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

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