Research Associate HOPE4NCDs

Full-time (37 hours per week); Fixed-term until 05/01/2027

Project: Harnessing Positive Deviance to Address Health Inequalities in Underserved Communities

Harnessing Opportunities for Promoting Equity in NCDs. HOPE4NCDs

African and Caribbean communities face significant health challenges, including higher rates of early-onset obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which severely impact life expectancy and health in later life. For example, Black Caribbean and Black African women have some of the highest rates of overweight/obesity in the UK. Despite efforts to improve health-related behaviours, such as healthy eating and physical activity (PA) campaigns, health inequalities persist. This project seeks to identify positive deviance in diet and PA behaviours within African and Caribbean communities. Positive deviance assumes solutions already exist within communities, and positive deviants succeed by demonstrating uncommon or different behaviours. The project will identify and understand these positive deviant health-related behaviours and their contextual factors using co-produced mixed-methods approaches (qualitative and quantitative secondary data analysis) within these communities. Findings will be used to develop a conceptual framework that will serve as a strategic roadmap for reducing health inequalities and improving health outcomes.

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated Research Associate to work on the qualitative component of HOPE4NCDs, funded by Wellcome.

The ideal candidate for this role will have expertise in qualitative methods, public health interventions (e.g. nutrition or physical activity), and experience working with ethnic minority populations.

They should possess a PhD (or be near completion) in nutrition, global health, public health, or a related field, and demonstrate competence in qualitative data analysis and writing research suitable for academic journals. Strong organisational skills, flexibility, and the ability to work remotely and independently, while adhering to project timelines, are essential.

For more information on the role please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Hibbah Osei-Kwasi, Senior Lecturer, via email to h.osei-kwasi@lboro.ac.uk or by telephone to 01509 223553.

Closing Date: 21 November 2024

Loughborough University is committed to allowing its employees to work dynamically with a combination of working on campus and remotely, where possible. This has been identified as a role that could work dynamically and, if successful, your line manager will discuss these informal arrangements with you. Please note that there is a general expectation that the successful candidate will spend the majority of time working on the Loughborough campus.

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