Research Associate (Arts-Informed Research - Theatre) in Sheffield

Research Associate (Arts-Informed Research - Theatre)

Are you an arts-informed researcher or artistic practitioner with experience of research who also enjoys working collaboratively? We have an exciting opportunity to join us as a Research Associate taking on a key role in our project

- Cripping Breath: Towards a new cultural politics of respiration, funded by a Wellcome Trust Discovery Award (226472/Z/22/Z). Our 5 year interdisciplinary co‑produced project explores respiratory health, illness, and people’s experiences of living on or with ventilation.We are looking for a creative researcher who can co‑lead a specific arts-informed work package. You will co‑create an accessible and inclusive arts-informed research process for our disabled Theatre Collaborators living with chronic respiratory illness. This dynamic role will include supporting theatrical artistic approaches to data collection and collaborative analysis and public engagement, while also contributing to the broader co‑produced research project.

For this role, you will have:

• Experience of undertaking qualitative arts-informed research approaches
• Experience and/or knowledge of co-production approaches to research
• Experience working with or within disabled‑led organisations
• A passion for co‑production research and creating inclusive and equitable research environments

What We Offer

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world‑class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Find out more at sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits and join us to become part of something special.

The School of Education

• The School of Education brings together the expertise, teaching and research from across education, lifelong learning and the Sheffield Methods Institute.
• We're home to a diverse and welcoming academic community with students from all over the world. Our forward‑thinking teaching and influential research are respected globally.
• We have a vibrant and political approach to disability research and community.
• It’s a warm and friendly environment with an inclusive and supportive research culture.

Summarise the role and its potential:

• This is an exciting opportunity for someone to co‑lead and co‑produce a research‑informed theatre production that explores ventilation, breathing, life and death. The performance will take place at the Barbican in May 2027.
• You will develop your skills in co‑produced research, collaborative writing and arts‑informed research methods.
• This role comes with inclusive mentoring and supportive line management and a commitment to the Researcher Development Concordat (Vitae, 2019).
• You will become a key member of the Cripping Breath team

We are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities which benefit the individual and University.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.