Apply now: championing public engagement in research

A new opportunity to deliver a bold new plan developing public engagement with research as a strategic activity is now open to academic colleagues.

Up to two Academic Champions for Public Engagement with Research (PER) will provide leadership to support high-quality and innovative public engagement as an integral part of research culture and practice across the University.

They will represent the needs of researchers and work to build a community of practice that brings together researchers and professional services staff with expertise in this area.

Funding is available for two Academic Champions (0.2FTE each), ideally one from within the Science disciplines and the other from Arts/Humanities or the Social Sciences.

This role provides an exceptional opportunity for an academic researcher to develop personal skills in research leadership and engaged research, to help shape the future provision of PER support, to foster the development of PER skills across the University, and to support reward and recognition.

Key skills and qualities

• Existing knowledge and experience of PER with an appetite to develop PER skills in self and others
• Commitment to facilitating and sharing PER skills within the University
• Proactive networking and mentoring
• Collegiate and collaborative approach when working with professional services, external consultants and academic researchers.

The role is open to academic researchers at any career stage, but they must hold a permanent post and have permission from their Head of School to apply.

Full details are in the role description.

How to apply

To apply, please send a short expression of interest to Caroline Knowles, Head of Research Communications by 12:00 on 12 July.

Expressions of interest (no longer than 2 pages) should include:

• Your motivations for applying
• How you would approach this role
• The relevant experience, key skills and qualities that you would bring
• How the role would aid your career development.

Interviews will be held on 18 July.

Action Plan

The Academic Champions will act as the cornerstone of a new Action Plan for Public Engagement with Research, signed off by the University Committee for Research & Innovation in February 2023. The Plan sets out activities to support and develop best practice in public engagement through:

• better communication and sharing of learning;
• fostering behaviours and enabling activity development;
• developing trust and mutual benefit with partner organisations and the public;
• addressing workload management (particularly time, resource, reward).

To support this important work, the University is also recruiting a Public Engagement with Research Officer, managed within the Research Communications & Engagement Team. More details about this role can be found in the job advertisement.

Research engagement in our community

Researchers took part in the University’s inaugural Community Festival on 13 May, engaging with people from the local community and sharing their work in a fun and engaging way. Watch the video now.