Research Associate (Qualitative)

Department
The postholder will be employed by the Mental Health and Addictions Research Group (MHARG) at the Department of Health Sciences, University of York. The postholder will be based at the University of York. There will be an expectation of some travel to the prison research sites.

The Research Associate will contribute to an NIHR programme grant evaluating a prison peer-led problem support mentor scheme across the Northeast, Northwest and Yorkshire and Humber regions. The post will expand on prior work conducted in this area see: (https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/mental-health/projects/peer-led-problem-solving/).

Role
The main purpose of the role is to conduct research under the supervision of senior colleagues and contribute to the production of research relating to the AMICABLE project.

Duties:

• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects duties to include: collection of data from within the prison sites, analysis and interpretation of research data, use of appropriate research techniques and methods; writing up of research results and dissemination through public engagement; key stakeholders, prison staff and prisoners.
• To successfully manage a large volume of qualitative data.
• To develop and initiate collaborative working internally and externally, within each prison site.
• To prioritise and plan your own workload.
• To coordinate and liaise with other members of the research team to ensure the smooth running of the project.
• To be adaptable, flexible, and responsive, whilst maintaining a confident approach to changing environments and circumstances, acknowledging that the research areas will include vulnerable prisoners.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• A degree in a health or social science research related field (e.g., psychology, sociology, health sciences).
• Knowledge and experience in qualitative data collection methods, particularly qualitative interviewing.
• In-depth knowledge of qualitative data analysis techniques, particularly thematic analysis, and ability to apply such knowledge into practice.
• Experience of working and/or conducting research in prisons.
• Highly developed communication skills to engage effectively with a wide-ranging audience, both orally and in writing, using a range of media.
• Ability to write up research work for publication in high profile journals and engage in public dissemination.
• Competency to make presentations at conferences.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to work independently using own initiative.
• Experience of carrying out both independent and collaborative research.

Conditions of Employment
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form. Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and HMPPS prison checks.

Interview date: 18th March 2025.

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr Amanda Perry: amanda.perry@york.ac.uk.

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