Professor

About the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing

The Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing (IPHW) is leading impactful research in public health and wellbeing for the University of Essex. The IPHW advances the University’s mission of excellence in education and research, for the benefit of individuals, communities, and society.

The IPHW is an international centre of excellence, bringing together research strengths across all three faculties, driving forward health- and wellbeing-focused research collaborations and developing strategic partnerships with regional, national, and international organisations. The establishment of the IPHW aligns the University’s research capability, expertise and strengths across a broad spectrum of research and innovations in public health and wellbeing, including a wide range of health related training programmes, clinics, facilities and services, leveraging the assets of our expertise and skills to enable us to scale our impact.

Duties of the Role

We wish to appoint a Professor with expertise in applied mental health research, to lead world class research and development work.

During the first 5 years, you will be in the role of Applied Mental Health Research Lead in the Institute for Public Health and Wellbeing. This role will involve developing an applied mental health research programme in partnership with local authorities, providers and PPIE contributors, to develop our research into applied, impactful trajectories with tangible benefits for the community. The initial research programme will cut across priorities identified by our mental health research stakeholder group; priorities identified by Essex County Council Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy; and findings from our preliminary work on mental health inequalities using Understanding Society data. The research strategy therefore initially focuses on tackling loneliness and social isolation among young adults in coastal communities, ensuring young LGBT and ethnic minority needs are addressed equally. You will also work with the research team to develop a further larger programme bid which will further expand the research focus in applied mental health beyond the initial 5 years.

You will lead a team of applied mental health researchers including two research fellows (1.5FTE), a PPIE co-ordinator (0.2FTE), 3 PhD students and 6 DClinPsych trainees.

The successful candidate will have a publication record appropriate for their experience and will be able to demonstrate evidence of an internationally leading profile in the field and to meet the criteria of a Grade 11 academic and teaching role. On the basis that the postholder will transition to a standard research and teaching role in the School of Health and Social Care, the applicant should demonstrate how they would contribute to the School’s education programme in 5 years’ time.

Qualifications and Skills required

Applicants will hold a relevant doctoral-level research degree or equivalent professional experience or practice relevant to applied mental health. You will posses a distinguished academic record, including internationally excellent research relevant to the NIHR-funded research programme in applied mental health. Appropriate markers of academic esteem and credibility, and/or professional recognition is also essential to the post.

The successful candidate will have a record of academic leadership in a range of appropriate contexts (e.g. learned societies, research grants, professional associations, academic networks). An appreciation of the value of appropriate research/education technologies and an ability and/or willingness to deploy these when relevant is also essential.

Advert information