Senior Research Associate - Knowledge Exchange and Innovation

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Future Finance UKRI/ESRC funded project led by the University of Bristol. Future Finance takes a mission led approach to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and Mid-Tier firms accelerate the adoption of technological innovation in financial services. The role holder will help to deliver the Future Finance innovation adoption accelerator in financial services (FS) and will join a team of social scientists across business and management, geography, law and innovation studies, working with the SETsquared Partnership, three other universities and FinTech West and FinTech Scotland. An important role of this post will be business engagement with SMEs and mid-tier FS firms, providing knowledge exchange and support through the Future Finance innovation adoption accelerator, and data collection to build upon an understanding of sector capabilities and opportunities.

What will you be doing?

• Supporting and researching the implementation of the financial services accelerator, collaborative challenges and innovation leadership programme, with internal and external partners;
• Engaging in knowledge exchange and recording pathways to impact for FS organisations that participate in the accelerator activities;
• Implementing qualitative research (e.g. interviewing, case studies, ethnography) to capture, analyse and present data collected from SME and Mid-tier participants, and stakeholders who use the accelerator;
• Contribute to academic outputs, policy briefings, workshops and conferences, blogs and social media, and engagement with stakeholders for wider impact;
• Analyse the outcomes from an online assessment tool developed for Future Finance and produce insights on the capabilities of the sector;
• Contribute to the completion of the project’s Data Management Plan and Open Data;
• Experience of or capacity for/interest in interdisciplinary research across Social Science and Innovation studies; and, the accelerator programmes;
• Provide formal training to a wider group of individuals within the accelerator activities;
• Support the FS business community and wider research team to understand the innovations and technologies that are influencing the sector and identify appropriate moments to explore adoption;
• Conduct quality assurance activities on completed research to assess robustness and reproducibility prior to publication;

You should apply if

• A PhD in a relevant field (e.g. Business/Management, Innovation Studies, Economic Sociology, STEM subjects focused on technology/innovation).
• Background knowledge and experience in one or more of: financial services and FinTech, innovation/technology studies, entrepreneurship, STEM focused technology/innovation adoption.
• Experience of or capacity for/interest in interdisciplinary research across Social Science and Innovation studies; and, accelerator programmes.
• Experience in knowledge exchange/transfer, business engagement, capturing impact pathways and generic skills in qualitative research including
• Experience of working at the interface between research and industry, providing knowledge exchange, transfer and support.

Additional information

For informal queries please contact:

Professor Jonathan V. Beaverstock (Jonathan.beaverstock@bristol.ac.uk)

Mr Jack Stanbury (jack.stanbury@bristol.ac.uk)

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 02/10/2024

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The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

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