Research Associate Or Fellow

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a distinctive, unique institution, rooted in the Liverpool City Region and with a global presence. Our students and staff, past, present, and future, are the beating heart of our city and can be found in every corner of every industry and community. We couldn’t exist anywhere else and have shaped the city in which we belong. Working with the people of Liverpool to improve lives and support communities is at the heart of why we were founded and why we exist today.

We are looking for an exceptional individual to join us as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate or Fellow on a part-time basis, for a fixed term until 15th October 2025. You will work with Dr Darren Chadwick to undertake a multi-site research project, IncludeAge, situated broadly within the research area of inclusive and age-friendly places to support the virtual and geographical community inclusion under-researched and under-served older groups in society. The project is led by the University of Dundee by Professor Judith Sixsmith.

Many older people experience exclusion from the communities they live in. The World Health Organisation has recognised this through their Age Friendly Cities and Communities programme, which encourages the development of different spaces and places to improve older peoples' inclusion in their communities and cities. Historically and politically people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans + (LGBT+) have been socially excluded from their communities throughout their lives; when people with IDD were housed in institutions and homosexuality was seen as an illness or criminalised. These life experiences put older people from these two groups at greater risk of inequality, discrimination, and exclusion in community contexts. Using online technology has also been difficult for older people, particularly for people who already experience exclusion such as those with IDD and those identifying as LGBT+. So far, very little research has been done with these two groups to hear their experiences of local and online community inclusion and exclusion and to better understand how community inclusion can be strengthened in England and Scotland.

The research is organised in five related work packages, jointly led by university researchers and practitioners in third sector and community organisations. All stages will be guided by people with lived experience in IDD and LGBT+ in advisory groups. People with IDD and LGBT+ lived experience will work as trained co-researchers on the project. We will use a variety of verbal, visual and geographical methods to access marginalised voices in appropriate ways and enable diverse people's views to emerge.

You will work on the part of the project focusing on older people with intellectual disabilities. You will undertake and support research activities including the production of literature reviews, applying for ethical approval, managing and conducting qualitative and quantitative research activities, and analysing qualitative and quantitative datasets. You will also conduct knowledge translation and mobilisation workshops, present research work in seminars and conferences and co-write for publications. Finally, you will help to identify future funding opportunities and co-write and submit research proposal to local, national, and international funding bodies.

Candidates who are interested in research in the areas of psychology, health and social sciences, environmental gerontology and/or people, place and community studies should apply. The programme of research broadly covers Ageing and place, whereby age friendly cities and communities, as well as workplaces, leisure outlets and the (care) home environment can be designed to fulfil the psychological, social, cultural and health needs of older people while avoiding the exclusion of other population groups.

In return, we offer an excellent benefits package including generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction, and development support as well as family-friendly policies.

This is an exciting time to join the university as we deliver the LJMU Strategy 2030 and its vision of LJMU as an inclusive civic university transforming lives and futures, by placing students at the heart of everything we do.

If you feel that this is the role you have been looking for and your skills and experience can make a real difference at LJMU, we look forward to hearing from you.

LJMU values diversity and provides a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can fulfil their potential.

Please note all of our vacancies will be closed to applications at midnight on the advertised closing date, unless otherwise stated.

LJMU are committed to adhering to the Principles set out in the Researcher Development Concordat; in line with this all fixed-term researchers will be supported to complete 10 days professional development activities per year (pro-rata).