Research Associate

About us:

We would like to appoint a Post-doctoral Researcher to play a key role within our Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Addictions. The PRU has been commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care for England, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Our aim is to inform policymaking relating to alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, illicit drugs, and gambling. Research conducted within the PRU draws on a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and incorporates different disciplinary perspectives including public health, epidemiology, psychology, health economics, operational research and psychiatry.

About the role:

The PRU focuses on research that relates to public policy and practice and, especially, research that can play an important role in guiding future policymaking.

You will take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly to meet PRU deliverables in nicotine and potentially other areas of the PRU.

This will include research development work such as questionnaire design, preparing applications for research ethics approval, training of relevant colleagues, ensuring compliance with research governance, recruitment of participants.

You will document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

This is a full time post; job shares and part-time appointments will also be considered.

You will be offered a fixed term contract until March 2028.

About you: 

Essential criteria

1. A good undergraduate degree or Master’s degree in a related area
2. A PhD (or evidence of equivalence) in a relevant discipline and/or topic area*
3. Understanding of addiction problems as experienced by individuals and communities as well as by policymakers and the general public
4. Understanding of research related to alcohol, tobacco or nicotine, other drugs or gambling (which could be public health-oriented rather than focused on addiction)
5. Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner. This should include publication in peer review journals appropriate to your career stage
6. Ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and presentation modes to a wide range of audiences, including policymakers and practitioners
7. Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, and of the distortions that can be associated with stigma and discrimination
8. Ability to work effectively across projects and teams

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of conducting research into public policy and/or related to alcohol, tobacco or nicotine, other drugs or gambling
2. Experience of research covering quantitative methods
3. Experience of research covering qualitative methods
4. Experience of systematic review methods
5. Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams and collaborating with researchers at other institutions

*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information:

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.

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