Postdoctoral Research Associate

About The University

Swansea University is a research-led university that has been making a difference since 1920. The University community thrives on exploration and discovery and offers the right balance of excellent teaching and research, matched by an enviable quality of life.

Our stunning waterfront campuses and multicultural community make us a desirable workplace for colleagues from around the world. Our reward and benefits, and ways of working enable those who join us to have enriching careers, matched by an excellent work-life balance.

About The Role

As a member of Swansea University, you will join colleagues conducting world-class research in disability studies and neurodiversity studies across disciplines. You will hold a fixed term 2 year post on the project AMEND – Early Modern European Neurodivergence. AMEND is a 6-year project funded by the Wellcome Trust that centres neurodivergent people’s ways of reading and engaging with texts.

We are seeking a qualitative researcher, interested in working with neurodivergent people to explore neurodivergent ways of engaging with texts. We will supply a bank of texts for you to use, in various formats (for example, modernised English, audio or BSL for accessibility, and different languages, depending on what your research participants need).

The project’s definition of neurodivergence is broad and inclusive and encompasses research into areas such as voice-hearing, addictions, and dementia alongside what might more commonly be thought of as ‘neurodivergent conditions’ such as autism and into the concept of neurodivergence itself. We aim to explore and value the diversity of neurodivergence, and to foreground often marginalised neurodivergent communities such as non-speaking people and neurodivergent people of colour.

You will contribute to the second phase of AMEND, working with the PI and Administrator to answer two research questions:

1. What new understandings of literature do we gain when we allow our neurodivergent ways of reading to flourish and develop instead of suppressing them?
2. How can early modern texts help us understand our lived experience of neurodivergence?

No expertise in early modern literature is required for this postdoctoral position, as the historical and literary research is conducted by other members of the project team. For this position, we are seeking someone to run a qualitative research project. You may have a background in social sciences, or you may have a humanities background that includes experience at conducting qualitative projects (interviews, focus groups, questionnaires). You may have experience at working with neurodivergent research participants, or with other marginalised groups, though this is not essential.

This second phase of the project involves:

• Qualitative research interviews and focus groups with 150 neurodivergent participants, which you would conduct alongside the PI. As part of this, you would design, deliver, and write up your own sub-project investigating how neurodivergent people engage with texts gathered by the research team during the first phase of the project.
• Running a workshop as part of a series of workshops on neurodivergent engagements with literature, and co-editing with the PI a special issue of articles arising from this workshop series. Other workshops in the series deal with topics such as sensory engagements with books, book-making, silence and reading, and embroidery as restful resistance.

The project grant provides you with financial support to visit archives and attend conferences as part of your role, and funded training in areas relevant to the project. You will receive regular mentoring from the PI, and the opportunity to have a second or alternative mentor at Swansea.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

As an inclusive and welcoming workplace, we value people for their skills regardless of their background. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh. Applicants for a role where Welsh skills are essential are expected to present their application in Welsh and will be interviewed in Welsh, if shortlisted.

Additional Information

To apply please attach:

1. A project plan: up to one side of A4 (or, if more accessible to you, a video or audio file of up to 3 minutes) describing the two-year project into early modern neurodivergence that you might pursue if you were successful for this role. (Save in 'Other Attachment' field)
2. A cover letter: up to one side of A4 (or, if more accessible to you, a video or audio file of up to 3 minutes) explaining how you meet the criteria for this role.
3. A CV of a maximum of 2 sides of A4.

Please use a minimum font size of 11pt for these documents.

For shortlisted applicants, two samples of writing (published or unpublished) or an equivalent sample of your existing work (such as a podcast) will be required ahead of the interview.

Share Download Job Description Print this page Back to list