Research Associate (Representation Matters)

Job reference: HUM-029354
Salary: £37,694 to £46,049 per annum, depending on relevant experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Humanities
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology & Egyptology
Hours Per Week: Full Time
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 25/08/2025
Contract Duration: 15 months
School/Directorate: School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Background:

The University of Manchester’s Access and Participation Plan (APP) data demonstrates disparity in completion rates for disabled students and in degree attainment for minoritised ethnic groups. Research at the University and across the sector has shown that a lack of representation in curricula and assessments contributes to these disparities. At the University of Manchester there is no training to help staff improve representation in their teaching, and this acts as a barrier to addressing the disparities and achieving APP objectives.

This project will make a significant contribution to tackling this issue and in turn addressing the Office for Students Equality of Opportunity Risk Register risks 1-3, 5-6,8 and 11 by using innovative, creative design methods to develop practical solutions for enhancing the representation of minoritised groups in assessment. Working sector leaders on race and disability in HE and with experts across the University of Manchester, we will develop and trial a set of resources for staff over the 18 months of the project, with the aim of making these ready to roll out to the whole university, and ultimately to be disseminated across UK HE, offering a practical approach, applicable sector-wide, to enhance representation and therefore close race awarding gaps and disability completion rates.

The project aims to:

AIM 1: Develop a resource set for staff to enhance the representation of under-represented groups in assessment.

AIM 2: Address key risks to equality of opportunity identified in our APP 2025-26 to 2028-29, specifically:

• Risk 4: The disparity in completion rates between students without declared disabilities and those with declared disabilities.
• Risk 6: Disparities in degree attainment that ethnic minority student groups face, particularly Black and Asian students, compared to their white peers in certain subject areas.

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Blended working arrangements may be considered

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Prof. Hannah Cobb

Email: Hannah.Cobb@Manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

Jobtrain: 0161 850 2004 https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

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