Fellowship Opportunity: Children’s Wellbeing

The internationally renowned Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS) is a cross-disciplinary research centre, specialising in innovative participatory research methodologies. Based in the Department of Sociology, we are a team of international experts in the broad areas of children’s wellbeing in migration studies, hate crime and mental health, trauma, youth justice and climate activism. Notably, the MCYS is home to the South Asian Network for the Well-Being of Children and Young People. Our funders include ESRC, AHRC, Citizens Science, Youth Justice Board, Welcome Trust, Comic Relief, British Academy, and Independent Social Research Foundation. MCYS has exceptionally strong international links and has worked/is working with, the University of Sydney Australia, UNSW Australia, Columbia University USA, La Trobe University Australia, Bridgewater State University USA, North South University Bangladesh, the Indian Statistical Institute, University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka, and the Foundation for Educational Change Nepal.  We also work in partnership with colleagues in research centres across the department, including the Policy and Evaluation Unit (PERU), which is home to the GUIDE Project (Growing up in Digital Europe) funded by the European Commission.

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 must have a doctoral-level qualification in a relevant social science discipline, including Sociology, Criminology, Youth Studies, Politics, Health, Social Policy and Education. With keen interest in the broad area of children’s wellbeing, participatory methodologies, or quantitative methodologies, you will be an innovator in participatory 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 Hannah Smithson (h.smithson@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  

To return to the main fellowship page, click here  

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