The Leverhulme Research Project “Media Representations of Disability” explores how mainstream media can change audience attitudes, with a focus on reducing stigma towards disability. The project is interdisciplinary and blue-sky in scope while being designed to trigger real-world social impact. It integrates media studies, disability studies and psychology, combining qualitative and quantitative audience research.
The core team includes PI Dr Catalin Brylla (media, disability), Co-I Prof Dan Jackson (media industries, audience research), Co-I Prof Geoff Haddock (social psychology, attitudes) and Co-I Dr Miguel Ramos (social psychology, stereotypes). The project collaborates with the BFI, BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky and The TV Access Project, offering an exciting pathway for impact-led, industry-aware research and engagement.
You will be employed by the BU Faculty of Media, Science and Technology and hosted by the Centre for the Study of Conflict, Emotion and Social Justice (CESJ), a centre known for cross-disciplinary work that connects media, psychology and social justice.
You will contribute across the project’s work packages in ways that balance theoretical rigour with empirical research. Your core responsibilities include: co-designing and co-delivering qualitative and quantitative data collection with UK audiences and media professionals (interviews, focus groups, quantitative surveys); contributing to discourse analysis of media content; ensuring high-quality research governance (ethics, accessibility, GDPR, data integrity); and co-writing and presenting outputs to academic, policy, industry and public audiences. Although you must be based in the UK, the post is hybrid and designed to be highly flexible (optionally remote), with most data collection conducted remotely.
What you will gain
This is intentionally crafted as an excellent springboard to an independent academic career:
- Mentoring and supervision from the PI and Co-Is, spanning media/audience studies, disability studies and psychology.
- Interdisciplinary, multi-method training (interviews/focus groups/discourse analysis/quantitative survey/experimental design/rigorous ethics for inclusive research).
- Publishing opportunities: co-author journal articles and contribute to an edited book with Bloomsbury; strong support for lead and co-authored papers.
- Conferences funded: expenses for at least three major conferences (international and UK) and industry events, plus an end-of-project symposium.
- Training and networks at BU: access to research methods seminars, the Doctoral College Researcher Development Programme and health and wellbeing support
- Contribution to CESJ’s annual UNSDG research sandpit, which builds interdisciplinary research teams and projects.
- Opportunity for supported application for HEA Fellowship.
- Wider networks: engagement with industry partners (BFI, BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky, TAP).
- International linkage: opportunities to collaborate with a sister project in Kenya (AHRC-funded); joining an international network across the UK and East Africa and liaising with the Kenyan project’s PDRA for knowledge exchange.
- Future funding: subject to performance and strategic fit, the RA will be part of developing a follow-up project that extends the scope of this research.
This role is available Fixed-term up to 30th of January 2028.
You are strongly encouraged to send us any supporting documents, such as publications or project reports, which you reference in your application. Please email these to the PI Dr. Catalin Brylla: [email protected]. You can also use this email for any informal inquiries about the role.
Please make sure your CV includes a full list of publications and at least two academic referees.