Postdoctoral Research Associate

The above part-time post at 0.8 FTE is available for a fixed term of 18 months beginning immediately on 01 May 2025 in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

The post
The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Dr Jennifer Lay in the Department of Psychology.

The successful applicant will contribute to an interdisciplinary project examining the health and wellbeing impacts of hot temperatures on older adults, with the aim of developing climate adaptation and mitigation across several international project sites. We will use a range of tools, including experience-sampling methods, wearable devices (e.g., Empatica EmbracePlus), and participatory ‘photovoice’ methods, to examine daily life experiences and health/wellbeing outcomes across the adult lifespan. This project is part of an international study involving collaborators in Scotland, Canada, Sweden, Israel, and Hong Kong.

Main duties:

• Coordinate a mixed-methods study of older adults’ daily life hot-temperature experiences and biomarkers during summer months.
• Recruit study participants and manage communications with the project team.
• Conduct focus groups with study participants and community partners.
• Analyse data from multiple study sites using quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in scientific journals and public-facing outlets.
• Prepare proposals and applications for funding and partnerships as needed.
• Disseminate project findings at academic conferences and public events.
• Liaise with researchers and community partners locally and internationally.
• Co-supervise postgraduate and undergraduate thesis students as needed.

The successful applicant will work with the Principal Investigator in collaboration with academic and community partners locally and internationally. The applicant will have opportunities to network across disciplines and sectors and to pursue additional research interests. The post will be based at the University of Exeter and will involve flexible working hours and travel within the UK as needed. Funding is provided for local and international conference travel.

About you
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or be nearing completion) in Psychology or a related field, or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of relevant research methods and techniques.

Successful applicants will be able to:

• Communicate complex information orally, in writing, and electronically.
• Prepare scientific manuscripts, proposals, and applications to external bodies.
• Conduct statistical analysis (including multilevel modelling) using appropriate tools (e.g., R, Jamovi).
• Conduct qualitative analysis (e.g. thematic analysis) or be willing to learn to do so.
• Supervise teams of research students and research assistants.
• Communicate effectively across disciplinary and sectoral boundaries.

Optional but desirable skills and knowledge:

• Experience conducting research with older adult participants.
• Skills in machine learning classification using text, images, and/or biomarker data.
• Skills in natural language processing and/or signal processing.
• Programming skills in R, Python, and/or MATLAB.
• Experience publishing research in scientific journals and public outlets.
• Experience translating scientific findings to public audiences and knowledge users (e.g. public forums, articles and videos for general audiences).

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification (available on the university's website, accessed by the 'Apply' button) for full details of this role.

Further information
For further information please contact Dr Jennifer Lay by e-mail at J.Lay@exeter.ac.uk.

The closing date for completed applications is 20 March 2025. Interviews are expected to take place between 28 March and 11 April 2025.

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