Research Fellow

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £35,880 to £45,163 with potential progression once in post to £47,874

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to March 2026 

Background

This post holder will join an established team in the Department of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham, to work on Theme 4 (Maternity) of the NIHR West Midlands Applied Research Collaboration (https://www.arc-wm.nihr.ac.uk/maternity/) led by Professor Sara Kenyon. The maternity theme works closely with practice and will continue existing work using as robust methods as possible, and to develop and deliver new studies and ultimately, improving care for mothers and babies. More detail of the current projects is on the website and contact with Professor Kenyon prior to applying is strongly encouraged. This role will be critical in delivering the theme’s aims.

You will have an unrivalled opportunity to undertake impactful research that will support the NHS in a time of rapid change within maternity care and improve outcomes for women and babies, combined with the opportunities of working within an established theme and a large multidisciplinary NIHR infrastructure programme. The NIHR ARC WM is a community of disciplinary and methodological specialists across three universities and six themes, and in this role you will be able to work with, and draw on their expertise.

Role Summary

This post will cover maternity leave up until the end of this current ARC in March 2026 and we are looking for an experienced researcher, with experience of working within the NHS, ideally in maternity care. Experience of qualitative methods is essential. Experience of implementation science would be advantageous. You will be required to work as part of a team supporting ongoing work, undertaking data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination as well developing new projects and contributing to writing bids. Flexible and hybrid working considered.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area or equivalent experience.
• Experience of undertaking applied research in health, in the NHS, ideally in and/or maternity settings.
• Qualitative research skills including data collection and analysis.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, managers and staff within health settings, and with service users. 
• Excellent IT skills, with working knowledge of standard Microsoft Office software and using custom systems and databases.
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones.
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project.
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Informal enquires can be made to Professor Sara Kenyon s.kenyon@bham.ac.uk.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 03/02/2025

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