Research Associate - Community Engagement & Participatory Design
Join a citizen inquiry project to foster community belonging and co-design AI tools for heritage institutions.
Best for:Best for early-career researchers with expertise in participatory design, qualitative methods, and community-engaged research.
Overview
The Open University is seeking a Research Associate to support the BELONG project, a citizen inquiry initiative focused on heritage contexts. The role involves facilitating participatory workshops with underrepresented communities in Milton Keynes and Cardiff to build research capacity and co-design AI enhancements for the nQuire platform. The successful candidate will manage data collection, conduct qualitative analysis, and collaborate with museum partners to generate evidence on inclusive engagement. This fixed-term position offers an opportunity to contribute to social justice and digital participation research within the Institute of Educational Technology.
What you'll do
- Facilitate participatory workshops with community groups in Milton Keynes and Cardiff to foster research agency.
- Execute data collection across two project phases, including surveys, interviews, and platform analytics.
- Collaborate with participants to co-design AI-driven enhancements for the nQuire citizen-inquiry platform.
- Perform qualitative analysis on workshop transcripts, field notes, and participant-generated artefacts.
- Manage logistics and maintain strong relationships with heritage partners at MK Museum, MK Living Archives, and National Museum Wales.
- Produce academic outputs, project reports, and public engagement materials such as blogs and webinars.
Requirements
Degree required: PhD in Community Engagement, Participatory Design, Citizen Science, Museum Education, or a related field.
Language: English; proficiency required for research and facilitation.
Instruction: English
Publications: Not explicitly specified, but a track record of academic outputs is desirable.
- Proven experience in designing or facilitating participatory or community-engaged research.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with underrepresented communities.
- Strong qualitative research skills including thematic analysis and interview conduct.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills for inclusive group settings.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks independently and maintain organizational standards.
- Willingness to travel regularly between Milton Keynes and Cardiff, including occasional overnight stays.
- Must be able to travel between Milton Keynes and Cardiff for project delivery.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-20
Submit a CV and a supporting statement of no more than 1000 words via the university recruitment portal. The statement should explicitly address how your experience aligns with the essential and desirable criteria.
- CV
- Supporting Statement
Contact
01908 541111
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