CANDIDATE BRIEF

Research Fellow in Applied Health Research, Faculty of Medicine & Health

Salary: Grade 7 (£37099 to £44263)
Reference: MHLRM1253
Fixed-term: 2 September 2024 to 31 March 2026 to complete a specific task or time limited work.
We will consider flexible working arrangements
 

Overview of the Role

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge?   Do you have a background in applied health research?  Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?


 An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, ambitious Research Fellow to work on two exciting research projects: D-MAPP, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Arthritis, Work and Well-being, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. The post will be situated in the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Medicine within the Faculty of Medicine and Health, working with Professor Philip Conaghan and Associate Professor Sarah Kingsbury.

D-MAPP: This mixed methods study will develop and subsequently evaluate (in conjunction with the Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research) a digital rehabilitation package of care for distal upper limb pain. Intervention development is now complete and the Research Fellow in Applied Health Research will provide support for a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the intervention with patients and healthcare professionals, prior to formal testing, to explore issues of usability, adoption and adherence of the intervention. For this project, you will work closely with the Research Fellow in Digital Health, who has led the intervention development. 

Nuffield: This mixed-methods study aims to provide guidance to employers and policymakers on how they can support improved wellbeing among working-age people who are diagnosed with arthritis. The Research Fellow in Applied Health Research will use qualitative methods to explore the experiences and lives of working-aged people living with arthritis to identify reasons why people’s employment is (or is not) affecting their wellbeing. You will subsequently use a co-production approach to develop recommendations for employers, working closely with the Research Fellow in Health Economics to map the findings of the qualitative work onto those from the quantitative analysis, to inform the co-production process.

You will have a first degree and PhD in a subject area relating to health services research/applied health research/social science/psychology; or have equivalent research experience. You will also have relevant research experience in an academic or relevant health care setting.

What we offer in return

    26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!

    Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary

    Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.

    Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.

    Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr Sarah Kingsbury

Email: S.R.Kingsbury@leeds.ac.uk

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge?   Do you have a background in applied health research?  Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, ambitious Research Fellow to work on two exciting research projects: D-MAPP, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Arthritis, Work and Well-being, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. The post will be situated in the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Medicine within the Faculty of Medicine and Health, working with Professor Philip Conaghan and Associate Professor Sarah Kingsbury.

D-MAPP: This mixed methods study will develop and subsequently evaluate (in conjunction with the Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research) a digital rehabilitation package of care for distal upper limb pain. Intervention development is now complete and the Research Fellow in Applied Health Research will provide support for a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the intervention with patients and healthcare professionals, prior to formal testing, to explore issues of usability, adoption and adherence of the intervention. For this project, you will work closely with the Research Fellow in Digital Health, who has led the intervention development. 

Nuffield: This mixed-methods study aims to provide guidance to employers and policymakers on how they can support improved wellbeing among working-age people who are diagnosed with arthritis. The Research Fellow in Applied Health Research will use qualitative methods to explore the experiences and lives of working-aged people living with arthritis to identify reasons why people’s employment is (or is not) affecting their wellbeing. You will subsequently use a co-production approach to develop recommendations for employers, working closely with the Research Fellow in Health Economics to map the findings of the qualitative work onto those from the quantitative analysis, to inform the co-production process.

You will have a first degree and PhD in a subject area relating to health services research/applied health research/social science/psychology; or have equivalent research experience. You will also have relevant research experience in an academic or relevant health care setting.

Main duties and responsibilities

As a Research Fellow you will be:

• Working closely with the Research Fellow in Digital Health to support the NIHR D-MAPP programme under the direction of the Programme Lead, Professor Philip Conaghan (LIRMM) to ensure its successful completion. At different stages of the programme, you will also work under the direction of Professor Gretl McHugh (SoH), and Associate Professor Sarah Kingsbury (LIRMM), including;

• Leading on the planning, co-ordination and completion of the Arthritis, Work and Well-being qualitative and co-production work packages under the direction of Associate Professor Sarah Kingsbury, including;

•  Ensuring the timely recruitment of patient and healthcare professional participants and stakeholders to the various stages of the programmes and subsequent efficient and effective data management;

• Generating and pursuing original research ideas in musculoskeletal conditions and applied health research;

• Developing and managing research objectives and resulting activities for the successful delivery of the programmes; establishing procedures to adhere to protocol, ethical and administrative requirements;

• Utilising social media to promote dissemination, recruit participants and generate interest and impact; 

• Working with the team to ensure that studies are meeting their planned milestones, producing meaningful output and to predict and plan any changes that warrant requests to changes in protocol, funding or time;

• Communicating or presenting research results through publication in leading international journals or other recognised forms of output, independently leading the writing of some outputs; 

• Developing research objectives and proposals and contributing to setting the direction of the research programme and team including, where appropriate preparing proposals for funding in collaboration with colleagues; 

• Working both independently and also as part of a larger team of researchers, engaging in knowledge-transfer activities where appropriate and feasible;

• Maintaining your own continuing professional development and acting as a mentor to less experienced colleagues as appropriate;

• Contributing to the research culture of the Institute, where appropriate. 

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

Key Attributes:

• Time management, organisation and planning skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines and work effectively under pressure;

• Written and verbal communication skills (including presentation skills) with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders;

• A proven ability to work well both individually and in a team;

• A strong commitment to your own continuous professional development;

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Name, Dr Sarah Kingsbury, Associate Professor

Email: S.R.Kingsbury@leeds.ac.uk 

Qualifications and Skills

Essential: Desirable:

Additional Information

Working at Leeds 

We are a campus based community and regular interaction with campus is an expectation of all roles in line with academic and service needs and the requirements of the role.  We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements. To find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Leeds area visit our Working at Leeds information page. 

Our University  

As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students and staff from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education.  Within Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community; those who identify as LGBT+; and disabled people. 

Information for disabled candidates

Information for disabled candidates, impairments or health conditions, including requesting alternative formats, can be found on our Accessibility information page or by getting in touch with us at hr@leeds.ac.uk


Criminal Records

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such, applicants are required to declare criminal records accordingly.  Appointees may also be required to complete a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and where relevant, equivalent overseas authorities.

Please note: If you are not a British or Irish citizen, from 1 January 2021 you will require permission to work in the UK. This will normally be in the form of a visa but if you are an EEA/Swiss citizen and you were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, this will be your status under the EU Settlement Scheme.