Research Associate – The Emotional Life of Clothes

This is a rare opportunity to join the project as its sole full-time researcher, working across the entire research cycle from typology-building and community fieldwork through to co-authored publications and public dissemination. Managed by the Project Lead, you will play an integral role in theoretical framing, participant recruitment, data collection and management, and project outputs. The role is full time (35 hours per week) and fixed term for 29 months, with an anticipated start date on or before 31 December 2026.

The role is based at Manchester Met, with hybrid/home working available on days without in-person commitments (e.g. fieldwork, training, meetings and engagement activities). Evening and weekend work is likely to be required, along with regular travel across Greater Manchester and occasional travel further afield for advisory board meetings and conferences.

• Help build a typology of narratives about emotion and clothing consumption, contributing to the project's theoretical framing.
• Recruit participants, and co-lead and help coordinate storytelling workshops with c.8 Greater Manchester community groups.
• Co-develop a creative toolkit.
• Co-develop and run focus groups exploring circular fashion policy.
• Manage research data securely, including transcription and anonymisation, in line with data protection and research ethics requirements.
• Act as lead or co-author on peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Contribute to public storytelling events, community dissemination workshops and an industry-facing forum.
• Set up and run the project's social media presence.

Manchester Fashion Institute, part of Manchester Metropolitan University, is a leading global fashion school spanning design, communication, business, technology and heritage, with recent investment in digital facilities, new academic appointments and a multimillion-pound fashion robotics lab. We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds, particularly from groups underrepresented in higher education.

Our research community is thriving, with fashion contributing to an Art & Design REF submission ranked second in the UK for research power; across the University, 90% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. The successful candidate will become a visiting scholar within the F/fashion Narratives Research Group, with access to research training and career development opportunities at both Manchester Met. and the University of Manchester.

Dr Benjamin Wild (Project Lead), with Professor Emma Banister (University of Manchester), Dr Jo Jenkinson and Jolene Sheehan (Joy Ethic) as Project Co-Leads, has secured ESRC funding for 'The Emotional Life of Clothes', a 30-month project exploring how people's emotional connections with clothing can support circular fashion and sustainable lifestyles. Reframing people as 'wearers' rather than 'consumers', the project will build new knowledge to inform narrative and policy strategies for how we buy, repair, recycle and replace clothes. Focused on Greater Manchester, the UK's 'fast-fashion capital', it brings together Manchester Met, the University of Manchester, community groups, fashion intermediaries, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Heard Storytelling, with outputs feeding into GMCA policy and a national industry report.

Further project details: https://fashionnarratives.mmu.ac.uk/the-emotional-life-of-clothes-leveraging-the-connection-between-emotion-and-clothing-to-support-circular-fashion-through-sustainable-lifestyles/

We are looking for someone with a good understanding of, and genuine interest in, emotion, narrative and clothing consumption behaviour, ideally with an interest in circular fashion and sustainability.

To learn more about this exciting opportunity and benefits we offer, please read the JD provided below.

• To apply, submit your CV and supporting statement outlining how best you met the criteria, via our online portal. Please note applications received without a supporting statement will not be considered.
• Assessment will include a competency-based interview round. The interview date is Friday 27 November 2026. As part of the interview, candidates will be presented with a research scenario and asked to develop a brief qualitative research plan to assess their creative and practical research design skills.
• For informal enquiries about this vacancy, please contact Dr Benjamin Wild on b.wild@mmu.ac.uk

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you!

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.