Manchester Metropolitan University Recruitment 2026 | Senior Research Associate (Media and Popular Culture)

Manchester Metropolitan University Recruitment 2026 | Senior Research Associate (Media and Popular Culture)

Manchester Metropolitan University invites applications for the position of Senior Research Associate (Media and Popular Culture) in the School of Digital Arts (SODA). This fixed-term postdoctoral opportunity is designed for an ambitious and highly motivated early-career researcher interested in the intersections of celebrity culture, popular music, fandom, artificial intelligence, and digital media.

The position offers the opportunity to contribute to internationally significant research projects and produce high-impact scholarly outputs in contemporary media and cultural studies.

Position Details

About the Opportunity

The successful candidate will contribute to a programme of internationally significant research exploring the intersections of:

• Celebrity Culture

• Popular Music

• Fandom Studies

• Digital Media

• Artificial Intelligence and Contemporary Culture

The role provides an early-career researcher with the opportunity to work on two major scholarly projects:

1. A peer-reviewed journal article examining the relationship between:

   • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

   • Celebrity Culture

   • Contemporary Digital Culture

2. A major academic monograph exploring:

   • Fandom

   • Music Cultures

   • Celebrity and Stardom

   • Gender

   • Authorship

   • Mediated Culture

About the Role

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, the successful candidate will undertake both independent and collaborative research activities and contribute to the development of high-quality publications for leading academic journals and publishers.

The role offers an opportunity to work within the vibrant interdisciplinary research environment of the School of Digital Arts (SODA) and engage with pressing questions surrounding contemporary media and popular culture.

Key Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct systematic literature reviews across:

  • Celebrity Studies

  • Digital Cultures

  • Fan Studies

  • Popular Music Studies

• Undertake original research relating to:

  • Celebrity Culture

  • Fandom

  • Popular Music

  • Contemporary Media Ecosystems

• Support the development of a peer-reviewed journal article focused on:

  • Artificial Intelligence

  • Celebrity Culture

  • Digital Media

• Contribute to the preparation of scholarly publications and research outputs.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers and actively participate in research activities within SODA.

Research Areas

The position is particularly suited for candidates with interests in:

• Media and Cultural Studies

• Popular Culture Studies

• Celebrity and Stardom Studies

• Digital Media Research

• Fandom Studies

• Popular Music Studies

• Artificial Intelligence and Society

• Gender and Media Studies

• Communication and Digital Culture

Ideal Candidate Profile

The university is seeking an ambitious researcher who demonstrates:

• Strong research and analytical skills.

• Excellent academic writing abilities.

• Experience in literature reviews and qualitative research methods.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Interest in interdisciplinary approaches to media and popular culture.

• Potential to contribute to internationally recognized research outputs.

Why Join Manchester Metropolitan University?

This opportunity provides:

• A chance to work on internationally significant research projects.

• Collaboration within the innovative School of Digital Arts (SODA).

• Opportunities to publish in leading academic journals and with major academic publishers.

• Engagement with cutting-edge debates on AI, celebrity culture, digital media, and fandom.

• A supportive environment for early-career researchers seeking to build an international research profile.

Researchers interested in media studies, digital culture, celebrity studies, popular music, fandom, and artificial intelligence in contemporary culture are encouraged to apply for this exciting Senior Research Associate opportunity at Manchester Metropolitan University.