Research Assistant

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant to work with a team working with Dr Nicola Lindson and Dr Rachna Begh supporting the TRIDENT research programme.

The aim of the programme is to help people with serious mental illness reduce harm from smoking by 1) Adapting a brief opportunistic intervention to promote harm reduction based on the MaSC trial (http://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3850-1) and 2) Adapting a behavioural support programme to promote smoking reduction based on the SCIMITAR trial (https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00091-7). Having adapted these programmes, we aim to test the combined effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in a definitive trial, assessing implementation issues to prepare for NHS adoption.

The post is part of the friendly, enthusiastic and motivated Oxford Tobacco Addiction Group (OxTAG) based within the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM). OxTAG are carrying out a range of research projects that aim to improve the lives of people experiencing tobacco addiction, with a particular focus on health inequalities. Our research includes both primary and secondary research and has direct implications for health policy and practice.

The post holder will work collaboratively with the project team to support and develop the research, led by the TRIDENT programme manager. There will be opportunities for leading focused aspects of the overall programme. Research methods included in the programme are both quantitative and qualitative and the post holder will be involved in intervention development, implementation, data collection, data analysis, and write-up. The postholder will also be expected to engage the public in shaping the research programme, and disseminate the outcomes to academic audiences and other stakeholders, such as policymakers and the public.

The successful candidate will hold relevant undergraduate and master’s degrees, demonstrate scholarship potential and academic attainment, have sufficient specialist knowledge in behavioural interventions, psychology of behaviour change and research methods to work within the research programme.

You will be based in the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG as your normal place of work. The Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) brings together a multidisciplinary team and aims to be a source of high-quality evidence on which clinical decisions can be reliably based (https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/research/our-research-approach). The team are committed to fostering the wider communication of high-quality evidence by promoting the principles of EBM through engagement, knowledge sharing, research and education.

The position is funded by an NIHR programme grant for applied sciences to start 1 November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. The programme is subject to review July 2027 and, if we reach our milestones, the post will continue until the end of November 2029.

For further information or discuss the post please contact Dr Nicola Lindson (nicola.lindson@phc.ox.ac.uk) and/or Dr Rachna Begh (rachna.begh@phc.ox.ac.uk).

“Committed to equality and valuing diversity”.

You will be required to upload a CV and Supporting Statement as part of your online application. The Supporting Statement should include a cover letter and should also clearly describe how you meet each of the selection criteria listed in the job description. Click here for information and advice on writing an effective Supporting Statement.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on Monday 7 October 2024.

Interviews are expected to be held during the week commencing 28 October 2024.

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