Research Associate: ESRC Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity (675336)

We are seeking to appoint a researcher to work in Social Policy as part of a new, multi-institution ESRC Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity. The role would suit a researcher with strong qualitative research skills with experience of working with mixed methods and of public/community engagement work.

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week)
Term: Fixed (until 31/08/2029)

As a Research Associate, you will work closely with (and be guided and supported by) Strathclyde’s Lead in the new ESRC Centre, Professor Kat Smith. The role is based in Social Policy, which is a thriving academic group with particular expertise in intersectional inequalities and participatory methods, and which is home to the Strathclyde Centre for Health Policy. The role will involve identifying and analysing existing qualitative data and evidence (e.g. in published reports, articles and in the UK Data Archive), producing syntheses of existing evidence (e.g. via meta-ethnographies) and, where important gaps in qualitative research are identified, undertaking new qualitative research (e.g. via interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis).

The appointee will also take a leading role in establishing and working closely with four Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity Public Scrutiny Panels, who will inform and scrutinise the Centre’s research (a dimension of the role which will require effectively engaging with the full remit of the Centre’s work). In the final two years of Centre funding, the appointed Research Associate will work with an external organisation to undertake a series of citizens’ juries. This will involve taking a lead on the procurement process for this work and then working closely with the appointed provider to design and deliver the citizens’ juries, to analyse the resulting data and to support policy engagement with the emerging recommendations. Longer term, the post-holder will be supported to identify additional sources of funding, and to contribute to securing of funds for further research and knowledge exchange, which is likely to include drafting grant proposals (this is likely to include contributing to large, collaborative grant applications and developing your own, independent grant applications).

To be considered for the role, you will be educated to a minimum of PhD level in an appropriate discipline, or have equivalent professional research experience in addition to a relevant degree. You will have sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in health inequalities and a developing ability to conduct individual research work, to disseminate results and to lead on knowledge exchange activities with local communities and with policy stakeholders. You will have an ability to plan and organise your own workload effectively and an ability to work within a team environment. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex information in an accessible way to a range of audiences.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor of Public Health Policy, Kat Smith (katherine.smith.100@strath.ac.uk).

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