Research Assistant in the Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented mixed methods researcher to join our team in the Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation. The purpose of the role is to support the delivery of an NIHR-supported, multi-centre randomized controlled trial of SELF-BREATHE, an online digital intervention for chronic breathlessness, led by Dr. Charles Reilly.

Breathlessness is a common and distressing symptom that affects many people with conditions including COPD, advanced cancer, and heart disease. While face-to-face integrated breathlessness services have been shown to improve breathlessness and reduce patients’ distress, these services aren’t available to most people in the UK who need them. SELF-BREATHE is an online self-management platform for adults living with chronic breathlessness. Developed alongside people living with breathlessness, it offers education, non-pharmacological self-management techniques, goal setting and more, accessible to patients from home at their own pace. Following a successful feasibility trial, we are now conducting a full RCT of SELF-BREATHE in England.

The post holder will be involved with all aspects of the trial including data collection (quantitative and qualitative) and analysis and provide day-to-day research and administrative support for the trial. This will be a varied role, with the opportunity to develop specific areas of focus based on your experience and interests.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered  a fixed term contract until 26 January 2028.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• A first degree in health care, sciences or a related field
• Experience conducting qualitative and / or quantitative research with demonstrated commitment to conducted high-quality research
• Knowledge of clinical trials methods and governance
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Good organisation and time management skills, with ability to work independently and balance competing priorities
• Sound research computing skills and ability to learn new packages eg. Reference managers, Excel, SPSS and other statistical packages
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team

Desirable criteria

• A strong Master’s degree
• Experience of working with individuals living with chronic respiratory disease
• Experience conducting and analysing qualitative interviews in patients with advanced disease
• Previously worked on another randomised controlled trial
• Demonstrated interest in breathlessness, digital health interventions, respiratory - palliative care

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