Realist Researcher

Location: Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford

Applications are invited for a Realist Researcher in the Primary Care Workforce and Learning research group led by Professor Sophie Park (https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/workforce-and-learning-research-group). There are two available posts. The first position ‘Workforce Partnership’ is fixed-term until 28 February 2027. The postholder will focus on ‘A partnership for workforce sustainability in under-served areas’. This multi-million-pound NIHR-HSDR funded collaborative partnership aims to bring together multidisciplinary researchers and practice partners to address the urgent workforce issues of staff recruitment, retention, diversity, and inclusion in the NHS and social care. The postholder will be primarily involved in realist reviews, but there will also be potential opportunities for involvement in realist evaluation and co-production. The second position ‘Continuity’ is fixed-term until 31 July 2026. This post will focus on a realist review of ‘Patient experiences of General Practice Continuity’. This NIHR-HSDR funded project is in collaboration with Queen Mary’s University London. Both projects require PPI and stakeholder collaboration to maximise relevance and impact of project outputs. Postholders will be encouraged to support team members, contributing to regular research group and departmental meetings and some double screening across reviews. 

The successful applicants will join a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team with expertise in primary healthcare organisation and design, workforce sustainability, realist evidence synthesis, qualitative research, and co-production. The postholders will have expertise in realist and qualitative research methods. Responsibilities will include contributing to initial programme theory development, searches, screening, data extraction, synthesis (realist analysis), interpretation of policy documentation and debate articles, and formulation of an evidence-based programme theory. They will also organise and facilitate relevant PPI and stakeholder meetings. Additional opportunities where appropriate, might also include involvement in realist evaluation of review findings with stakeholders and users. Applicants will also be encouraged to participate in departmental activities including some teaching and citizenship activities as agreed with their line manager. 

You will have a doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D/D.Phil), or be near completion, in a relevant subject (e.g. public health, primary care, health psychology, epidemiology, evidence synthesis, or equivalent), with relevant research experience, and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline (workforce, primary care, continuity, general practice sustainability) and approach (realist and qualitative methods) to inform research and develop future research projects and methodologies. 

You will be based in the Gibson Building, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG as your normal place of work but there may be the opportunity for some remote working to be agreed with your line manager. 

Both positions are funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). 

For further information or discuss the post please contact (Professor Sophie Park; Sophie.park@phc.ox.ac.uk). 

You will be required to upload a CV and Supporting Statement as part of your online application. The Supporting Statement should include a cover letter and should also clearly describe how you meet each of the selection criteria listed in the job description. Click here for information and advice on writing an effective Supporting Statement. Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application. 

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on Wednesday 26 February 2025. 

Interviews are expected to be held during the week commencing 24 March 2025.

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