Research Associate - School of Social Policy and Society - 107838 - Grade 6

Position Details

Health Services Management Centre

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906

Grade: 6

Part Time, 0.5 FTE (18.75 hours per week)

Fixed Term contract up to February 2028

Closing date: 1^st October 2026

Background

This role will involve joining a team that will be exploring decarbonisation strategies within cancer care pathways.   This research supports NHS Net Zero commitments and Integrated Care Systems by identifying strategies that simultaneously reduce emissions, improve outcomes, and reduce inequalities. We will be focusing on cancer care because it is carbon-intensive, spans all settings, and requires public confidence. We will map co-benefits of decarbonisation strategies, explore stakeholder attitudes and acceptability, and co- produce a prioritised research agenda. Our aim is to create an evidence-based framework to identify co-benefits, ensuring decarbonisation efforts strengthen rather than compromise NHS care quality and equity.

Your role will be to assist in the research by carrying out data collection, curation, analysis, and dissemination to create knowledge through providing research support for projects and research groups.

Role Summary

Do you have an interest and experience of evidence synthesis and an interest in its application and use to inform decision making in environmental and health policy settings? Do you thrive in team working environments?

You will be joining the College of Social Sciences to support a dynamic, multidisciplinary, collaborative team to explore the co-benefits of decarbonisation strategies within cancer care pathways.  You will become a member of a newly formed team, funded by NIHR to undertake research work that will form the foundation of future funding applications.  The project is also designed to develop the team and much of the duration of the project will focus on our progression towards effective team cohesion and team working.

You will be expected to participate in and commit to the established team science principles including collaboration, equity, open communication, inclusion, and interdisciplinarity and, as a member of the team, we will also be committed to your own academic and potential career progression.

Your specific role will involve regular communication with the team, taking responsibility for developing a scoping review protocol, conducting a scoping review, providing regular updates in progress of the review. You will also participate in the other work-packages of the project which will include undertaking a research prioritisation exercise and piloting qualitative interviews.  You will be expected to disseminate and answer questions on the review.

You will be part of an established multi-disciplinary team at the forefront of methodological innovation and policy and practice change and will be based within the Evidence Synthesis Group. Centre of Evidence and Implementation Science) CEIS also encompasses: a National Institute for Health and Care Research funded Evidence Synthesis Group and a Policy and Methods Group.

Main Duties

• Develop a protocol for the scoping review, work collaboratively with the information specialist to design a search strategy.  Manage the search results, undertake screening, data extraction and analysis of the scoping review. 
• Provide weekly updates on progress to all team members. 
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters.
• Support team working goals by assisting project management, attending team meetings, team development activities, and by contributing insights and ideas.  We want you, from the outset to know that your contributions are valued. 
• Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research.
• Participate in planned training and contribute to the development of further grant applications. 
• Deal with possible unforeseen problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines and communicate these to the rest of the team.
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research.
• Identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures.
• Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity duties document.

Person Specification

• Degree or equivalent in relevant subject area. 
• Practical experience of applying the relevant skills and techniques, particularly in evidence synthesis. 
• Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively.
• Ability to access and organise resources successfully.
• Competency with using EPPI Reviewer ( https://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/er4/ ) and  Qualitative data analysis software such as MAXQDA. 
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties under the Equality Act 2010. Including fostering good relations and advancing the universities Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
• Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity knowledge, skills and experience document.
• Communicate effectively with research team members and project participants verbally and in a written format.

Informal enquiries to Fiona Campbell, email: [email protected] 

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.