Deadline: 5pm Wednesday 6th March 2024
BCU is delighted to call for expressions of interests for Postgraduate Researchers to join, as Peer Researchers, That’s Me! Eliminating barriers to postgraduate research study in the West Midlands, a highly prestigious project funded by the UKRI and Office of Students as part of a nationwide programme to Widen participation in postgraduate research – UKRI.
Our project
BCU co-leads That’s Me! with the University of Wolverhampton. Our project approach aims to explore evidence-bases that relate to the Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) experience, specifically Routes In (e.g., pathways and barriers to PGR study), Routes Through (e.g., bridges between PGT and PGR, networking, and mentoring models) and Routes Out (e.g., careers support and cross-sector employer engagement.) Taking an intersectional approach, we want to investigate these areas across our entire PGR community using a variety of research methods. From this, we can develop impactful interventions that holistically improve our culture and community for everyone, and, in particular, our Global Majority students.
Find out more about the project.
The role of a Peer Researcher
Peer Researchers form part of the That’s Me! Internal Project Evaluation. The evaluation is led by the Institute for Community Research and Development at the University of Wolverhampton. Peer researchers collaborate to support internal evaluation exercises, with a specific focus on institutional processes. They also support the Institute to roll out exercises undertaken by the That’s Me! external evaluator, Kings College London.
The purpose of all evaluation activity is to comprehensively understand and assess the progress, outcomes, and key determinants of success within project activity.
An indicative list of responsibilities for peer researchers:
- Liaise between BCU Research Action teams and the Institute.
- Support socialisation of evaluation mechanisms, such as evaluation surveys.
- Support the analysis of evaluation data and preparation of reports.
- Attend regular team meetings at BCU and University of Wolverhampton.
- Update BCU Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators on evaluation activities.
- Support wider That’s Me! project activity as appropriate
Initially, this opportunity will run to 31 August 2024 with an opportunity to be extended to 31 August 2025 subject to project progress and review of individual contributions.
The Peer Researcher role attracts a rate of £19.55 per hour and each peer researcher can claim up to a total of 15 hours in 2024.
*Applications are welcomed from staff members who are also postgraduate researchers. Please indicate this in your statement. Staff members would need to ensure their employment contract doesn't restrict them from undertaking additional paid employment. If it does, the project team would be happy to explore how the role can be accommodated within the staff member's Workload Allocation Model.
Peer Researchers criteria:
- Identify as Global Majority.
- Enrolled (Pre-thesis submission) on a doctorate at BCU and have evidence of appropriate progression as relevant to stage of study.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- An interest in intersectional approaches to academic research.
- Strong teamworking and time management skills.
Making an application
Applications can made by completing the Expression of Interest form. You will be asked to:
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Summarise your suitability for the role (300 words).
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Upload an up-to-date CV (limited to 2 pages A4).
If an alternative application format is required, please contact Yvonne Leslie.
The deadline for applications is 5pm Wednesday 6th March 2024
Applications will be reviewed against the above criteria by a panel.
All applicants will be notified of outcomes the week commencing the Week commencing 18th March 2024
Find out more
If you need further information or want to discuss the role informally, please contact the Project Leads, Dr Oliver Carter or Professor Sarah Cooper.