Project: Theorising ableism in the academy

In recent years, the concepts of ableism and disablism have conflated. We want to consider the theoretical purchase of ableism and explore the ways in which this ideology works with disablism and other processes of marginalisation and discrimination. We will be advertising for this post in early 2024.

All details of the job can be found here and also here.

The information is a pdf - we have this as plain text here

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

I’m outside of the UK, can I apply?

Yes - but the posts will be UK based. We are not able to support applications from people who wish to work remotely for extended periods from outside the UK. This is because of UK employment law. S ome further details are found at this hyperlink https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/induction/before/international

Will I be expected to travel (and if so, what support is available to enable this)?

The post will be based at the University of Sheffield and work for this post can take place on campus or online. There is no expectation for national or international travel. There may be optional and voluntary opportunities to attend and present at conferences and events. Many of these are now online or hybrid. Where these are in-person, we will work with event organisers to maximise accessibility for our researchers. 

Is there a possibility of this being continued into the future? 

The aim is for this post to start as soon as possible with an end date of 01/07/26. In addition, Professor Lawthom and colleagues are committed the postholder to explore job opportunities post-award. We can, for example, explore future-facing research funding and grant applications. There are also often redeployment opportunities at the end of the grant. Furthermore, we have secured some funds to fund bespoke Continuing Professional Development for our researchers and project coordinator - this is in addition to the CPD opportunities offered by the University of Sheffield. We believe that it is important to us to ensure individuals can grow their skills and capabilities and provide funds to support this activity. 

Tell me about your commitment to disability access.

It is vital to ensure all activities and events are accessible to those who may need specialist equipment or specialist services like BSL Interpreters, captioners, personal assistants and care costs.

Can I work remotely?

Yes. We welcome applications from those who wish to work remotely from the UK. We are not able to support applications from people who wish to work remotely for extended periods from outside the UK. This is because of UK employment law. Please remember that we are not able to remunerate employees for travel to the University campus or for overnight accommodation in Sheffield to carry out work on the project. 

For the project coordinator, we would expect the successful applicant to adopt a hybrid model with sometimes working at home and other times working on campus. We would negotiate this split with the successful applicant.

What are the opportunities for flexible working? 

We welcome flexible working arrangements.  Members of the team can expect to be supported by their line manager to develop working patterns that work for them and for the delivery of the project. If you are shortlisted for interview we can definitely discuss flexible working options.

Will I be required to work in the evenings and weekends?

Most of the work will take place between working hours and the working week. We know that research project work is adaptive and adaptable.  We’d be keen for the postholder to take back that time during the working week if they were to work any hours after 5pm or before 9am.

Are the posts part-time or full-time?

This post is full-time. We are, however, committed to exploring flexible working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University. Therefore, we would consider flexible delivery of the role subject to meeting the business needs of the post. If you wish to explore flexible working opportunities in relation to this post, we encourage you to call or email the departmental contact listed below.

How will you support my career development? 

The University is committed to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, also known as the Researcher Development Concordat. This is an agreement between employers of researchers and research funders on the expectations for the professional development and employment conditions of researchers in the UK. We are committed to achieving its Principles for the environment and culture, employment and professional and career development of researchers.

Will there be opportunities to publish?

Yes the aim of this post is to publish in academic journals but our focus is also on practice-based outputs where appropriate.

What skills and capabilities will I develop in the course of working on these projects? Will I be connected to fellow researchers and project coordinators?

The postholder will join iHuman and School of Education research communities which includes a large group of disability studies researchers. 

When will interviews be?

We are planning on interviews in April 2024 and will give more details as we get them. In iHuman and the School of Education, we are trialing a host of inclusive assessment methods including sharing interview questions before with shortlisted applicants.

Who can I contact for more information?

Please email Professor Rebecca Lawthom r.lawthom@sheffield.ac.uk