Research Assistant

About Us

This role will be based at the Cicely Saunders Institute for Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation at King’s College London, the premier Institute for Palliative Care, bringing together clinical, research and education teams. King’s produces more highly cited research outputs (top 1% citations) on palliative care than any other centre internationally.

The Institute is based within the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care (NMPC), in the heart of south London. Our applied clinical and health multidisciplinary research transforms therapies, the healthcare experience and outcomes for patients and those important to them, wherever they are cared for.

About the role

This is an exciting research assistant opportunity, focused on supporting a new mixed-methods project which explores the relationship between breathlessness and loneliness in older people.

The overall project includes a qualitative photovoice study, statistical modelling of cohort study data, and a ‘sandpit’ event with key stakeholders, to determine priorities for action. The team will work with people affected by breathlessness, clinicians, researchers, and policy-influencing organisations, to inform new interventions to reduce loneliness in older people. The project is funded by ESRC-funded and led by Dr Lisa Jane Brighton.

The post-holder will focus on delivering the qualitative photovoice study with people living with breathlessness. They will obtain ethical approvals, recruit participants, conduct qualitative interviews and analysis, and share findings in public-facing and academic outputs, including peer-review publications. The post-holder will also lead on stakeholder involvement, including the ‘sandpit’ event, and be the key point of contact for the project.

Supporting the project on breathlessness and loneliness will comprise four days a week of the role. Alongside this, post-holder will spend a day a week supporting Prof Catherine Evans with Institute patient and public involvement activities. This includes assisting our Public Involvement Executive Group in delivery of our Public Involvement Strategy

The post-holder will be supported by a team of experienced researchers and encouraged to engage in ongoing progressional development and training. There will be additional opportunities within the post to contribute to related research and educational activities at the Cicely Saunders Institute.

We welcome applications from people with backgrounds in diverse disciplines relevant to applied health research and/or social science.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31st October 2026.

About You

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

Essential criteria

• Degree in health or social sciences, or similar (minimum upper second-class)
• Training and/or experience in qualitative research methods
• An understanding of the principles of patient and public involvement in research
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organisation skills and ability to prioritise task demands
• Understanding of data confidentiality and research integrity
• Being self-motivated and willing to work independently, as well as part of a larger interdisciplinary team
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias

Desirable criteria

• Masters-level qualification in health or social sciences, or similar
• Experience working with people with chronic health conditions, including people with breathlessness
• Experience of interviewing people about sensitive issues
• Experience of stakeholder involvement in research
• Relevant publications

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