Research Associate (Design)

The Design Research Hub offers world leading research in design for health and wellbeing. It houses over thirty researchers and experts in four research groups, including the Design for Health and Wellbeing research group. It forms a key part of the Manchester School of Art Research Centre (MSARC), which also includes research hubs in Architecture, Art, Fashion and Media. In the REF 2021, research in Art and Design at Manchester Met ranked 2nd in the power ranking, with impact and setting recognised as internationally excellent and world-leading. Our work includes pure and applied research supported by various funders, including projects funded under the Horizon 2020 programme, the AHRC, the Wellcome Trust, or commissioned by national agencies, local councils, and charities.

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to help with the development and delivery of the prestigious Wellcome Trust funded research project 'Designing for peer social engagement and social-emotional wellbeing of children with cerebral palsy'. This role will focus on developing new insights into how play can improve peer socialisation and how to design new play solutions using evidence-based child-friendly design strategies to help children with cerebral palsy develop peer social skills. The project will use child-friendly methods with co-design processes to enable children, their parents and experts to become active participants in developing and implementing evidence-based solutions. The PDRA will support the lead researcher, Dr Ganna Borzenkova, in all parts of the project, including desk-based research, participatory research involving children actively in co-designing and evaluating design solutions; and the development of design and policy guidelines.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Conduct a review of peer social support tools, including existing design solutions, for children with disabilities, especially children with cerebral palsy to identify key areas for data collection around socialisation needs; a review of co-design methods with specific focus on children with disabilities to develop the child-friendly co-design framework.
• Undertake qualitative data collection and analysis to gain insights into social functioning in children with cerebral palsy with disability features; personal, attitudinal, and environmental factors; the children's current social interactions and skills.
• Co-design play-based design solutions with children, their parents and experts, as well as the lead researcher and advisors from Manchester Met using co-design methods in a step-by-step action research process.
• Test and evaluate how the design solutions developed through the co-design process affect the children's experiences of social interaction with their peers, feelings of belonging to a peer group and social-emotional wellbeing.
• Write up results of the research and prepare for sharing with research team and key stakeholders.
• Present findings to suitable internal and external groups, such as research forums, conferences, or seminars, as required.
• Contribute to the sharing of research findings through journals, conferences and seminars.
• Plan and organise own daily work and resources to achieve agreed research goals.

The successful applicant will work closely with Dr Ganna Borzenkova and Professor Niedderer to conduct research including collecting, managing and analysing data, to share research findings through relevant journals, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and/or participant events, and to provide support with making funding applications to external funders.

Before submitting your application, you are strongly advised to discuss this role with Professor Kristina Niedderer K.Niedderer@mmu.ac.uk.

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 all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working options, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide proper 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 Job Description for that vacancy.