Postdoctoral Research Associate

We are seeking an ambitious post-doctoral researcher with a strong understanding of health inequalities and skills in evaluating complex interventions to be a part of an exciting Liverpool-based UKRI-funded programme of research called “SCHOUSE: Supporting Communities in social Housing and Optimising Urban food System interventions for Equity”. 

This exciting opportunity offers for a postdoctoral researcher to join the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems at the University of Liverpool to join this inter-disciplinary research project which is a collaboration of academic researchers from the Universities of Liverpool and Cambridge and several non-academic partner organisations. These include housing associations and organisations working to improve food access in Liverpool. The overall aim of SCHOUSE is to produce new evidence on the drivers of dietary inequalities for residents in social housing and to co-design, deliver and evaluate place-based interventions that address these inequalities.
The postholder will be based in Dr Rachel Loopstra’s group in the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems  within the Institute of Population Health . They will also work closely with the other project investigators and researchers from the Department of Psychology  and the Department of Geography and Planning , and from the MRC Epidemiology Unit  at University of Cambridge. Key responsibilities and duties will include:
- Developing research protocols for codesign activities and trial evaluation.   
- Preparing ethics applications and related study materials.  
- Conducting literature reviews and rapid evidence assessments.  
- Recruiting participants into research studies and working to ensure their ongoing participation over time.
 - Conducting mixed methods data collection as part of a community-based trial, via questionnaires, interviews and focus groups, and undertaking analyses of these data (mainly quantitative with some qualitative).  
 - Leading on the writing up of academic papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
- Leading other dissemination of research findings (e.g. conference presentations, reports, policy briefs).  
- Liaising with partner organisations and project advisory panels.

• Contributing to the wider project by participating in research team meetings, and wider stakeholder and funder events over the lifetime of the project.

• Contributing to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in line with Institute of Population Health policy.

• Assisting in the training of PhD and MPH students as appropriate, and to develop supervisory and management skills.

• Undertaking personal development appropriate to their role and career stage, including undertaking training when required.

You will have a PhD in public health or a related discipline, and previous experience of conducting research on diet-related inequalities, preferably of conducting dietary and/or public health trials and the associated data analyses. Previous experience of working with people with lived experience of dietary inequalities/food insecurity is also desirable. The post will require local travel to fieldwork sites in the Liverpool City Region.

The post is available for 36 months. 

Although the university has a hybrid working system, the expectation is that the successful applicant appointed to this role will be expected to work more than 50% on campus.

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30.  Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

This role is eligible for sponsorship under the skilled worker route.

Job Ref: 093513

Date: 23 May 2025

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