The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
The main purpose of this role is to provide research support to colleagues and support staff for the Social Sustainability within global supply chains by assisting, and where necessary taking the lead, with research data collection and analysis, and the dissemination of findings to appropriate groups related to the project.
Support the development of new areas in the field of Social Sustainability (modern slavery) within global supply chains.
Dates: 5/06/2024 - 10/07/2024
Hours: 10.5 per week
Key Tasks
Research Activities
The graduate intern will be responsible for conducting a ‘systematic literature review’, under supervision from Dr Marina Papalexi and the academic team. This will add to the academic evidence base via formal publication, which will be created in conjunction with the academic team. The role will involve and ability to analyse and synthesise complex information; content analysis; good writing skills.
Conducting a systematic literature review is done in a very transparent and methodical manner. Please see the steps identified below:
- Step 1: Framing questions for a review (led by Dr Marina Papalexi and the academic team)
The problems to be addressed by the review should be specified in the form of clear, unambiguous, and structured questions before beginning the review work. Once the review questions have been set, modifications to the protocol should be allowed only if alternative ways of defining the populations, interventions, outcomes or study designs become apparent.
- Step 2: Identifying relevant work (led by Dr Marina Papalexi and the academic team)
The search for studies should be extensive. Multiple resources (both computerized and printed) should be searched without language restrictions. The study selection criteria should flow directly from the review questions and be specified a priori. Reasons for inclusion and exclusion should be recorded.
- Step 3: Assessing the quality of studies (led by Dr Marina Papalexi and the academic team)
Study quality assessment is relevant to every step of a review. Question formulation (Step 1) and study selection criteria (Step 2) should describe the minimum acceptable level of design. Selected studies should be subjected to a more refined quality assessment by use of general critical appraisal guides and design-based quality checklists (Step 3). These detailed quality assessments will be used for exploring heterogeneity and informing decisions regarding suitability of meta-analysis (Step 4). In addition, they help in assessing the strength of inferences and making recommendations for future research (Step 5).
- Step 4: Summarizing the evidence (led by the graduate intern)
Data synthesis consists of tabulation of study characteristics, quality and effects as well as use of statistical methods for exploring differences between studies and combining their effects (meta-analysis). Exploration of heterogeneity and its sources should be planned in advance (Step 3). If an overall meta-analysis cannot be done, subgroup meta-analysis may be feasible.
- Step 5: Interpreting the findings (led by Dr Marina Papalexi and the academic team)
The issues highlighted in each of the four steps above should be met. The risk of publication bias and related biases should be explored. Exploration for heterogeneity should help determine whether the overall summary can be trusted, and, if not, the effects observed in high-quality studies should be used for generating inferences. Any recommendations should be graded by reference to the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence.
The timeframe available, four weeks, will allow sufficient time to conduct to systematic literature review is fully. In addition, each will be written up (supervised by the academic team) and plans created for formal publication.
- Undertake exploratory qualitative research using Structure Literature Review.
- Undertake Structure Literature Review using Nvivo.
- Plan and prioritise own day to day work and resources to achieve agreed research objectives, leading the work of small teams of research assistants and/or research students as required.
- Undertake quality research and detailed analysis, and present findings to appropriate internal and external groups, such as research forums, conferences, or seminars, as required.
- Write up results of own research and prepare for presentation to research team and relevant stakeholders.
Use initiative and judgement to develop appropriate techniques in order to facilitate research work and resolve problems affecting the achievement of objectives and deadlines.
Liaison and Networking
Contribute to the dissemination of research findings through journals, conferences and seminars, in order to further the institution’s standing in the HE and research community.
Participate in the development of internal and external partnerships and networks in order to disseminate information, share best practice, generate income, establish opportunities for collaborative work, and to enhance the reputation of the University.
Work with partners and external agencies on collaborative projects that benefit both the department and the Faculty.
Teaching Support
Supervise the work/projects of taught postgraduate and/or research students as required and provide training on techniques appropriate to the role.
Contribute to teaching support via demonstration of practical methods or operation equipment to undergraduate, masters and/or research students as appropriate.
Service Provision
Keep relevant stakeholders updated on progress, and be responsible for exploring their needs, and acting on feedback, in order to ensure that research delivers against their requirements.
Collaborate with senior academic staff to organise, manage and carry out appropriate research.
Respond to enquiries and requests for information from potential students, academic staff from other HE institutions, and relevant stakeholders, when required.
Proactively and effectively engage with quality assurance procedures to ensure that University standards are upheld.
Team Working
Actively participate as a member of the research team, providing mutual support to colleagues to achieve successful completion of projects.
Attend Faculty, Department and Programme meetings/boards as appropriate and proactively contribute to decision making.
Introduce new starters to the area, giving training on basic skills and activities to assist their induction to the team.
Guide and support research assistants and other members of staff within the department in areas of expertise e.g. in undertaking research and writing up papers for publication.
Other
- Good computer literacy skills
- Enthusiasm to try new technologies
- Willingness to contribute content to university website and social media channels
- Experience of using databases (Excel, etc)
- Have skilled usage of IT including Microsoft Office package
- Ability to balance priorities and work with the pressure of competing deadlines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Ability to work with others and under direction
Skills developed or knowledge gained as a result of carrying out the internship:
- At the end of the internship the following skills and knowledge will have been developed:
- Will have contributed to the future publication of one academic paper, and one external funding application.
- Will have a thorough understanding of how to design, conduct, analyse, and write up a formal systematic literature review.
- Will be able to critically evaluate and present digital and other sources, research methods, data and information; discern their limitations, accuracy, validity, reliability and suitability; and apply responsibly in a wide variety of organisational contexts.
- Can demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of contemporary organisational disciplines; comprehend the role of business within the contemporary world; and critically evaluate and synthesise primary and secondary research and sources of evidence in order to make, and present, well informed and transparent organisation-related decisions, which have a positive global impact.
- Will be capable of conveying meaning and message through a wide range of communication tools, including digital technology and social media; to understand how to use these tools to communicate in ways that sustain positive and responsible relationships.
- Will have further developed the following key skills: be self-motivated; curious; show initiative; set, achieve and surpass goals; as well as demonstrating adaptability, capable of handling complexity and ambiguity, with a willingness to learn; as well as being able to demonstrate the use of digital and other tools to carry out tasks effectively, productively, and with attention to quality.
- Will be capable of Identifying, defining and analysing theoretical and applied business and management problems, and developing approaches, informed by an understanding of appropriate techniques, to explore and solve them responsibly.
- Will understand how to manage and sustain successful individual and group relationships in order to achieve positive and responsible outcomes, in a range of virtual and face-to-face environments
Miscellaneous
- You have a legal duty, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or anyone else by your acts or omissions. In addition, you must cooperate with the University on health and safety matters and must not interfere or misuse anything provided for health, safety and welfare purposes.
- You are responsible for applying the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy in your own area of responsibility and in your general conduct.
- You have a responsibility to promote high levels of customer care within your own areas of work.
- Such other relevant duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the Manager in agreement with you. Such agreement should not be unreasonably withheld.
- You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to Environmental Sustainability in order to reduce its waste, energy consumption and carbon footprint.
- You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to delivering value for money services that optimise the use of resources and therefore should consider this when undertaking all duties and aspects of your role.