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 primary purpose of this role is to assist colleagues and support staff in the project Orchestrating Sustainability: Examining the Emergence of the Circular Fashion Ecosystem in the UK. You will support data collection, assist in organizing workshops and events, and contribute to the dissemination of findings to relevant research groups and stakeholders.
This role contributes to exploring the growing trend of sustainability in the UK fashion industry through circular economy principles. The Research Assistant will help gather and analyze data, conduct interviews, and contribute to the development of a large database focused on circular fashion ecosystems in the UK.
Start Date: January 6th, for one year, with the possibility of extension for up to two years.
Hours: 8 to 12 hours per week, flexible based on mutual agreement and project needs.
Location: Primarily online, with occasional in-person meetings required with the investigators.
Key Responsibilities
Research Activities
• Assist in conducting literature reviews and database searches using standard methods, supporting the investigators in reviewing the literature using recent technologies.
• Help in the collection and analysis of qualitative data, particularly through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis.
• Use qualitative analysis software (NVivo or Atlas.ti) to help analyze interview data.
• Support the creation of a project database and contribute to building connections with circular fashion communities across the UK for interviews and event coordination.
• Support the creation and maintenance of the project website and updates.
• Assist in organizing interviews, workshops, and events with circular fashion stakeholders.
• Ensure confidentiality and appropriate anonymization of data.
• Attend industry events, workshops, and other gatherings related to circular fashion ecosystems to assist with data collection, interview coordination and note-taking. Be prepared to briefly introduce the project to stakeholders and participants.
• Support the organization of multi-stakeholder impact workshops.
• Assist in drafting research reports and contributing to academic publications.
Liaison and Networking
• Engage with circular fashion communities and organizations, collaborating to ensure effective communication and engagement.
• Network with stakeholders under the guidance of the investigators.
Service Provision
• Engage proactively with quality assurance procedures and ethics protocols, particularly regarding data collection, anonymization, and confidentiality.
• Collaborate with academic investigators to support the project’s research activities and contribute to future project development.
Teamwork
• Actively contribute to the research team and the broader academic community within the Department of Strategy Enterprise Sustainability (SES).
Other Duties
• Adhere to health and safety policies, and apply the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Promote environmental sustainability practices within the project and University.
• Carry out additional relevant duties, in agreement with the project managers and investigators.