The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are looking to Nottingham residents and community groups to co-create new research projects that will make a real difference to the lives of ordinary people living in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Co(l)laboratory is a pioneering initiative shaped by communities, for communities, and we need your help.

Co(l)laboratory’s next round of PhD research project co-creation runs from June through to September 2023.

This development phase is a core part of our programme where we bring together Nottingham academics and a wide range of partners from local community-focused organisations to work together to co-create new PhD research projects which address challenges relevant to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire communities.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to become proactive members of a growing community of people who want to support real, meaningful change for Nottingham’s communities through research.

We need academics who want to help us drive forward an agenda of community-engaged research, and community partners who can provide a strong link to real-life practice and experiences that can help ensure our research is relevant and responsive to the needs of local communities.

Why should you get involved?

For academics, Co(l)laboratory presents an opportunity to be part of a pioneering, cross-institutional project which is challenging the way that doctoral research is created, led, and delivered. Our highly collaborative approach creates opportunities for researchers to broaden their networks, skillsets, and experiences, as well as to help contribute to positive change within research and in our local communities.

Through this, we aim to foster stronger connections between academics at UoN and NTU, support more embedded collaborations with external partners, and ultimately support the production of higher quality, more inclusive and therefore more impactful research.

Furthermore, project teams, including their fully funded PhD candidates, will become part of a unique community of creative and innovative individuals and will receive dedicated support and resources focused on partnership management, civically engaged research and more.

How do I express my interest?

To get involved with our latest PhD Research Project Co-Creation phase, please submit some brief details in the online expression of interest form.

The Co(l)laboratory team will use these details to contact you about our information webinars and co-creation workshops, as well as to put you in contact with other potential academic and/or community partners with whom you might be interested in collaborating on a proposal.

The next co-creation workshop is on Monday 4 September 2023 and the project submission deadline is Friday 20 September 2023.

To find out more about the next phase of PhD research project co-creation workshops and events, please visit the Collaboratory website.