Art, Science and Medicine: Expanding understanding and addressing the challenges of regenerative medicine

A commitment to support developments in Regenerative medicine is a major strand of the UK government’s current drive to enhance the biomedical agenda and support scientific excellence from bench to bedside. However, the public remain relatively unaware of current realities and future possibilities offered by this cutting-edge area of biomedicine. The University of Brighton has recognised the importance of interdisciplinary work relating to regenerative medicine and has funded a number of important projects and collaborations under the umbrella of the Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine.

This unique doctoral project will give an exceptional student the opportunity to work with experts in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, the University of Brighton School of Art, Design and Media and the School of Health Sciences on an innovative interdisciplinary project. The aim of the project will be to experientially investigate the use of arts-based activities to engage a wide range of constituencies with the scientific, ethical and clinical realities and possibilities of regenerative medicine. Over a period of three years, the project will aim to engage with expert and lay stakeholders building a substantive shared knowledge base. The project will inform current and future thinking on the place of arts in educating, informing and engaging publics with scientific and medical matters and their social and ethical implications

Place of employment
The project is to be based in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Professor Bobbie Farsides. Given that the work will be part of the Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Brighton the supervisory team will be a collaboration of academics at the School of Art, Design and Media (Dr Vikki Haffenden) and the School of Heath Sciences (Professor Julie Scholes). The successful candidate will also be expected to work with partner clinical units, and in the wider community. The applicant will be expected to travel to locations in the UK to meet with the different stakeholder representatives. Some funding will be available to support travel and public participant activities, but it is anticipated that the successful applicant will also seek external funding from relevant sources.

The candidate will be committed to practicing research that is action oriented and designed within a highly participative framework. S/he will relish methodological innovation and challenge. Whilst the selection committee will be open to excellent applicants from a range of disciplines, candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the demands of inter-disciplinary research, knowledge of current theory and practice relating to public engagement with science and patient and public involvement in research, and the confidence and ability to engage and communicate through artistic endeavor. Applicants should have a minimum of an Upper Second Class Degree and relevant postgraduate experience (practical or academic) will be valued. The applicant will be CRB checked and deemed suitable to work alone with vulnerable adults and or children in community settings.