Post-doctoral Research Associate - (8366)

About the Department

The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the UK's largest and most popular departments of its kind, located in a city renowned for its vibrant sporting culture. As part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, we are a dynamic, research-active community with a strong track record of securing competitive funding from UKRI research councils, charitable foundations, the EU, and Innovate UK. We maintain close collaborations with the NHS, government bodies, and elite sports organisations across Greater Manchester and beyond.

We foster a vibrant postgraduate research culture with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and impact. The department offers a supportive environment for early-career researchers, with opportunities for mentorship, training, and professional development.

About the Project 

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to a pioneering project funded by the Waterloo Foundation, exploring the neural mechanisms of balance control in children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). This is a hands-on role that will involve working directly with children aged 7–13 years to collect neurophysiological data (EEG and EMG) during balance recovery tasks on a forceplate-embedded treadmill.

As the postdoctoral researcher, you will be part of an active and supportive environment that values team science, child-centred research, and inclusive practices. You will work closely within the multidisciplinary team led by Dr Johnny Parr, alongside Dr Greg Wood, and Dr Richard Mills. The team is further supported by collaborators from Brunel University, Imperial College London, Liverpool John Moores University, Florida State University, and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. 

About the Role

• The role offers scope for professional development, including opportunities to train in EEG/EMG methodologies, contribute to supervision of MSc and PhD students, and participate in departmental seminars and collaborative meetings.
•  You will also be encouraged to attend and present at national and international conferences, with support for early-career researcher development embedded into the project team.
• Based in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, you will play a central role in the day-to-day delivery of the project. This will include participant recruitment and communication with families, preparing and running testing sessions, managing and processing data, and contributing to protocol development and refinement.
• You will also have the opportunity to lead or support data analysis and contribute to academic publications and dissemination events.
• This postdoctoral role will sit within the department's growing body of work on child motor control, neurodiversity, and applied neuroscience.
• The successful candidate will benefit from access to world-leading facilities in our Wolfson ACTIVE Research Lab, including cutting-edge neuroimaging technologies such as EEG, fNIRS, and a 3T MRI scanner, alongside embedded forceplate treadmills and motion capture systems.
• This is a primarily on-site role, with some flexibility, to support participant testing and team collaboration. The research team typically meets in person on designated days to coordinate data collection and engage in collaborative problem-solving. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of EEG, EMG, and balance testing sessions with children aged 7–13, including participant preparation, equipment setup, and safe, child-friendly protocol implementation.
• Support participant recruitment, screening, and scheduling in coordination with schools, parents, and relevant community networks.
• Process and analyse neurophysiological data (e.g. EEG event-related potentials, EMG response windows) and balance metrics using appropriate software (e.g. MATLAB, EEGLAB, BrainVision Analyzer).
• Manage research data in line with ethical and GDPR standards, including anonymisation, secure storage, and documentation of participant files.
• Collaborate with internal team members and external research partners to ensure scientific quality, technical accuracy, and developmental appropriateness of experimental procedures.
• Contribute to the dissemination of findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and stakeholder engagement events (including a planned science day with participants and families).
• Assist with the supervision and training of MSc students working on related projects within the department.
• Participate in project meetings, departmental seminars, and interdisciplinary workshops; contribute to the preparation of ethics amendments, progress reports, and future research proposals. 

Key Skills & Experiences 

Qualifications:

• A PhD (or near completion) in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical sciences, kinesiology, sport and exercise science, or a closely related discipline.

Essential Experience and Skills:

• Experience conducting human participant research, preferably involving children or neurodivergent populations (e.g. DCD, autism, ADHD).
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and empathetically with children and their families.
• Familiarity with neurophysiological research methods (e.g. EEG and/or EMG), including participant setup, data acquisition, and preliminary signal quality checks.
• Experience with data management and research governance, including informed consent, anonymisation, and ethical data handling.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team across academic and clinical settings.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, including managing participant scheduling, experimental documentation, and research timelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to contribute to research outputs and/or present findings to diverse audiences.

Desirable Experience and Skills:

• Prior experience with EEG or EMG data processing and analysis (e.g. using EEGLAB or similar).
• Programming or data analysis skills in MATLAB, Python, or R.
• Experience conducting gait or balance experiments using forceplates or motion analysis tools.
• A developing publication record or contributions to peer-reviewed papers and academic presentations.
• Experience supporting or mentoring postgraduate students in research settings.

To learn more about role and requirements, please read the Job Description provided below.  

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you!

To apply: 

• If you would like to apply, please take the time to consider the essential criteria in the job description and person specification. Please provide us with a cover letter and CV that demonstrates your suitability for the role.
• For an informal discussion regarding the requirements of the roles, please contact Dr Johnny Parr (j.parr@mmu.ac.uk) for details. Please be aware that only applications including a cover letter may be considered at shortlisting stage. 
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview during the week beginning 20th July 2025.
• As part of the selection process, candidates will be asked to deliver a presentation, and will be followed by a panel interview. Further details will be provided to shortlisted applicants in advance.

We believe in working together, sharing knowledge and valuing everyone's contributions. Develop your skills, further your knowledge and be part of a team who are transforming lives, every single day!

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, particularly those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.

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