Research Fellow (Writing and Place) - (7493)

Fellowship Opportunity: Writing and Place 

The English Department at Manchester Metropolitan: 

The past decade has seen an increasing interest in literature as a medium for exploring and re-imagining human relationships with place and the environment. Place-based research in literary studies engages with this thematic focus on place in writing, but it can also involve the use of creative writing as a methodology for co-creating research, across disciplines and with communities, to address societal challenges from social cohesion to the climate crisis. With our strengths and experience in both of these kinds of place-based literary research, we believe we have unique opportunities at Manchester Met to capitalise on an intensifying emphasis on place-based interventions in the UK policy environment and in the funding landscape for Arts and Humanities research. 

The English Department at Manchester Met is home to over 60 researchers in literature, film and media. Our Writing School is one of the largest in the UK, and we have a postgraduate community of around 300 students, with masters programmes in Publishing, Creative Writing and English Studies. English Language and Literature at Manchester Met was ranked 8^th of 92 subject groups in REF2021 for Research Power and has been placed in the top 250 in the last two iterations of the QS World Rankings.

With six Professors of Poetry including a former Poet Laureate, Manchester Met's poetry research has for two decades been amongst the strongest in the UK. Established in 2016, our Centre for Place Writing represents sector-leading creative and critical research into the relationship between writing, place and the environment. As documented in four impact case studies for REF2014 and REF2021, our poetry research is distinctive for interdisciplinary innovation, public reach and place-based social impact. Our poetry researchers collaborate with researchers in Health and Social Care, Education, Music and Ecology, engage across media and languages to reach global audiences, and impact the lives of thousands of project participants in schools, hospitals and communities. Recent and current projects involving creative and critical poetry researchers include our multilingual schools poetry competition, Mother Tongue Other Tongue, which has engaged over 40,000 schoolchildren and won the Queens Award for HE in 2019 for its contribution to inclusive education; Untold Stories of the NHS, an AHRC-funded creative writing project exploring staff experiences of belonging within the organisation; and Voices of the Future, a £2m NERC-funded project engaging young people in designing, creating and caring for treescapes. The Manchester Poetry Library, which opened in 2021, provides a research resource, a platform for regional public engagement and a crucible for interdisciplinary collaboration and community co-creation. The Manchester UNESCO City of Literature partnership, in which Man Met is a founding and funding partner, connects us to a network of regional and global partners united by a common goal of using literature to address societal challenges from literacy to sustainability.

Working with colleagues in the Poetry Research Group and Centre for Place Writing, and capitalising on the opportunities presented by the Manchester Poetry Library and Manchester UNESCO City of Literature partnership, the Fellow in Writing and Place will build a global profile for their research into the role of creative writing in place-based social transformation. Their specialist interests will lead them to collaborate and seek funding opportunities with researchers in other disciplines within and beyond the Arts and Humanities. 

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 e.g. research workshops, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, portfolios, academic journals etc. 

• 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.

• To engage in scholarly activities conducive to a long-term successful academic career that will support and enhance the research culture within the Department/ School, Faculty and University.

About the candidate: 

Your desire to use literature and creative writing to make a difference to the lives of people beyond the academy is vital to this post.

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 within the University and with 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 Helen Mort (h.mort@mmu.ac.uk) to discuss the fellowship opportunity in detail. 

Application Process: 

To apply to the Fellowship, please provide the following documents: 

• Research Interest Statement (no more than two sides of A4, font size 11, 2 cms margin): Statement should include your long-term career aspirations, how your research till date and plans to develop and contribute towards your research interest in the future will impact the University's Research Strategy whilst working with an existing team of researchers.  

• Research Proposal (no more than four sides of A4, font size 11, 2 cm margins): Kindly provide a research proposal focused on a specific topic within the research faculty you are applying for. The proposal should be accompanied by a Gantt chart outlining a 3-year research timeline.  

• Curriculum Vitae (include details of your education, citizenship, publications, funding, employment history & names of referees) 

Please note that panels will not consider attachments that fall outside of the limits, where specified. 

We aim to offer up to a maximum of 15 fellow appointments, for which we will be assessing applicants competitively across the four faculties that are welcoming applications. 

Assessment Timelines: 

• The application window will be available for 8 weeks and will close on 29 May 2024
• Interviews will be held on-site in Manchester (where practical) in the w/c 17 and 24 June 2024
• We aim to make offers to successful candidates in the w/c 03 July 2024

Enquiries:  

If you haven't found your specific area of research, please click here to sign up to our job alerts. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on researchfellowships@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+.    

We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations about this throughout the application process.  

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