Research Associate - Community Engagement & Participatory Design

TL;DR

Research Associate - Community Engagement & Participatory Design (Citizen Science/AI): Delivering the BELONG citizen-inquiry pilot across heritage sites in Milton Keynes and Cardiff with an accent on participatory workshops, qualitative research, and inclusive co-design. Focus on building research capacity with underrepresented communities, analysing mixed qualitative evidence, and translating community-authored ideas into AI enhancements for the nQuire platform.

Location: Based on campus in Milton Keynes with remote work and monthly on-campus catch-ups available; regular travel to Cardiff is required, including occasional overnight stays or weekend sessions.

Salary: £38,784–£42,254 per year pro rata.

Company

hirify.global is a UK university focused on flexible part-time education, widening access to higher education, and research excellence.

What you will do

• Facilitate participatory and co-design workshops for community groups across Milton Keynes and Cardiff.
• Coordinate surveys, interviews, field notes, participant artefacts, and nQuire platform analytics.
• Support participants in exploring digital tools and defining AI enhancements for the nQuire citizen-inquiry platform.
• Analyse transcripts, interviews, field notes, and artefacts using qualitative research methods.
• Coordinate delivery logistics with museum and heritage partners across both sites.
• Contribute to reports, academic publications, webinars, blogs, and public engagement activities.

Requirements

• PhD in Community Engagement, Participatory Design, Citizen Science, Museum Education, or a related field.
• Experience designing or facilitating participatory or community-engaged research using co-design or co-production methods.
• Experience working with underrepresented communities and understanding barriers to institutional access.
• Strong qualitative research skills, including interviews, transcription, coding, and thematic analysis.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, organisational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to travel regularly between Milton Keynes and Cardiff and work across two delivery sites.

Nice to have

• Experience in museum, heritage, or community contexts.
• Familiarity with nQuire, online survey platforms, qualitative analysis tools, or collaborative design tools.
• Knowledge of AI accessibility and inclusive design principles.
• Experience contributing to publications, reports, or conference presentations.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative project environment based on co-ownership and genuine engagement with community participants.
• Flexible working arrangements, including part-time, job-share, compressed-hours, and other options.
• University staff benefits and policies supporting work-life balance.
• Opportunities for professional development, knowledge exchange, and research collaboration.
• Fixed-term 0.5 FTE role of 18.5 hours per week from October 2026 to April 2027.

Hiring process

• Submit a CV and a supporting statement of no more than 1,000 words.
• Applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis and the vacancy may close early after the minimum advertising period.