Department of Sociology
Hourly Pay Rate:
£12.60 hourly pay + £1.51 per hour holiday pay
Hours Per Week
7
Duration of role:
Short term role
All Locations
Manchester campus (Jobs4Students)
Closing Date:
15 Mar 2026

Job Description

The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students from the Department of Sociology (and Criminology), to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
  
Job role: Research Assistant for the Digital Donor Conception Project.
 
This internship aims to develop skills in qualitative data analysis whilst contributing to ongoing research as part of the Digital Donor Conception study. This project explores people's perceptions, practices and experiences of informal donor conception (IDC) - donor conceptions arranged outside of medical institutions. 

The intern will work on the third phrase of the study, analysing the platforms commonly used to arrange IDC. These include specialist websites and apps, as well as Facebook groups. The intern will analyse data already collected from these platforms, exploring how the affordances of digital platforms and digital cultures shape practices and experiences of IDC. The intern will work with Leah Gilman, Research Fellow in Sociology, to develop a coding frame and code the data using Nvivo. The intern will have the opportunity to reflect on and share what they learn about contemporary practices of IDC and how this knowledge could be used to improve support for all people impacted by donor conception.
 
Date(s): May 2026 - June 2026
 
Hours of Work: 7 hours per week (one day per week for 8 weeks)
 
What would a student expect to gain from the internship?
 
- Experience of analysing research data as part of live research project
- Experience using Nvivo software to code data
- Awareness and skills in navigating ethics of analysing online data.
- Skills in working both independently and as part of a team
- Developing skills in theorising from research data

Please Note - As part of the 2026 Sociology Internship offering, priority will be given to Level 5 & 6 students who have specified in the Careers Registration survey (this is completed during enrolment and cannot be changed at this time) that they have had no work experience in the last 12 months and would like some on campus work or a short work placement and those who have not worked via Jobs4Students previously. However, applications are welcomed from all students meeting the criteria below.
   
Students are only eligible to undertake one Sociology Internship.
 
For further information on the Sociology Internships please see the Student Information.

Person Specification

This role is only open to current Manchester Met students from the Department of Sociology (and Criminology) who meet the following requirements: 
 
Essential Criteria:

- Knowledge and understanding of methods of qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Knowledge and understanding of digital research methods and ethics
- Knowledge and interest in the sociology of families, assisted reproduction and/or digital sociology
- Ability to work to shared goals as part of a team

Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of coding qualitative data
- Experience with using Nvivo software (or similar e.g. ATLAS).
 
When applying for this role, please send an up-to-date CV and an expression of interest statement. Your expression of interest should be no more than 1 side of A4 and explain, with examples, why you have applied for the position and what skills and experience they can bring to the role. Pay close attention to the essential and desirable criteria when you do this.
 
If you have any questions about the role, please contact Leah Gilman: [email protected]
 
Please Note - As part of the 2026 Sociology Internship offering, priority will be given to Level 5 & 6 students who have specified in the Careers Registration survey (this is completed during enrolment and cannot be changed at this time) that they have had no work experience in the last 12 months and would like some on campus work or a short work placement and those who have not worked via Jobs4Students previously. However, applications are welcomed from all students meeting the criteria above.
   
Students are only eligible to undertake one Sociology Internship.

How to Apply

Please apply via the Apply button, completing the form on the next page.
  
The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on 15 March 2026.
 
Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 
  
We are committed to providing accessible and inclusive recruitment. If you require or would benefit from support or reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in work, please contact us by e-mailing [email protected]. This information will only be used and shared with those who require it to implement any change(s) and only at the point this is required.
 
If you have any queries, or need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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