Research Assistant in Design

The Department of Design at Manchester School of Art is renowned for its international and world-class research in transdisciplinary Design Innovation with Sustainability; Community and Heritage; Making and Materiality; and Design for Health and Wellbeing; and its award-winning pedagogy in collaborative Design practice.

We aim to create a viable future by facilitating responsible cultural, social, material, and technological transformations and we place value on responding to the needs of industry and society to address critical challenges. Our ambition is to be internationally recognised for employing design intelligently to address global challenges, whilst seeking to push the boundaries of research informed design and pedagogy to create the agenda setters of the future.

Our research and teaching builds on extensive heritage and connection to the creative industries which has enabled us to become one of the leading providers of design education nationally, and our research and education are consistently highly ranked in subject league tables. Through this, we provide unique opportunities for collaborative co-creation across our global network of educational partners, research associations and industry professionals.

The Role

We now seek a Research Assistant to support our research ambitions in Design for Health and Wellbeing.

The Design for Health and Wellbeing research group (DoWell) focuses on the relationship between design or craft practices and artefacts, places and people. We have a particular strength in applied research and collaborative projects. Working with academics, businesses or third-sector partners, and anyone concerned with health and wellbeing across the UK and beyond. We examine notions of wellbeing, health and social care, shared meaning and decision making through co-design, co-creation and co-production, to develop a better understanding of the social impact of craft and design. Through our research, we challenge fixed assumptions about (mental) health and social care, engaging with diverse populations and perspectives.

The principal roles of this position will be to: 

• Support the research, grant capture, dissemination, and impact activities of the DoWell research group
• Actively seek opportunities to connect the DoWell research group to wider thematic research strengths and research led teaching activity in the department of Design
• Provide support to students on the MA Design for Health and Wellbeing, and wider Design PGR community.

Applicants must hold a PhD aligned to Design for Health and Wellbeing, and a first degree in one of our teaching specialisms of Craft, Textiles, Product Design, Illustration, Graphics or Interiors, or allied creative discipline.

To apply for this vacancy online, please click the Apply button above, please take the time to consider the essential criteria in the job description and provide us with a Cover letter and full CV that demonstrates your suitability for the role. If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you.

For any informal enquiries, please contact Professor Kristina Niedderer (k.niedderer@mmu.ac.uk) or Dr Paul Micklethwaite (p.micklethwaite@mmu.ac.uk).

Manchester Met University is committed to creating an intentionally inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We understand the importance of having a diverse workforce and the benefits it can bring to ensuring diversity of thought and innovation in everything we do. We, therefore, encourage applications from our local and international communities, in particular people from ethnic minority groups, disabled people and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

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