Research Fellow II - Department of Applied Health Sciences - 107893 - Grade 8

Position Details

Department of Applied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 8, salary £56,535.

Grade: 8

Part Time, 0.5 FTE (18.75 hours per week)

Fixed Term contract up to May 2028 

Closing date: 16^th September 2026

This post will be offered at Grade 8 or Grade 7, depending on the skills and experience of the successful candidate. Only one appointment will be made at a maximum of 0.5 FTE.

Background

Applications are invited for an ambitious Mixed Methods Research Fellow to work at the University of Birmingham across a nationally-leading research programme funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) as part of the NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium (MDC).

The NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium (NIHR MDC) is a £50 million NIHR investment which brings together a diverse range of organisations with expertise in research, capacity development and working with people and communities to deliver a step change in maternity outcomes and developing future research leaders in this area of need. The research carried out by the consortium will focus on inequalities before, during and after pregnancy.

The postholder will work within the pregnancy, birth and early postnatal maternal health theme (theme 2), including research programmes in cardiometabolic risk prevention and management, and specifically, remote blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy and the postnatal period.

The NIHR MDC is co-ordinated from  the University of Birmingham (Research) and Newcastle University (Research and Capacity Development). The postholder will be based at the Unviersity of Birmingham. The University operates hybrid working but it is expected you will spend the majority of your time on site.

The researcher will support the MDC in delivering impactful research and knowledge mobilisation activities with partners across the health and care system. You will be expected to support the development and delivery of components of the theme’s research programme initially until the 31^st of May 2028.

This post will be offered at Grade 7 or Grade 8, depending on the skills and experience of the successful candidate. Only one appointment will be made at a maximum of 0.5 FTE.

Find out more about the College of Medicine and Health our Department by visiting the links below:

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/college-of-medicine-and-health

Department of Applied Health Sciences - University of Birmingham

Role Summary

• Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing national and often incipient international reputation
• Plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes
• Contribute to the development of research strategies
• Publish results of own research
• Supervise PhD students
• Contribute to the Department/School through management/leadership 
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities, widening participation, schools outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University

Main Duties

To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques.  This may include, where appropriate to the discipline:

• Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support
• Plan, publish and/or execute high quality research
• Project manage research activities, and/or supervise other research staff
• Present high quality findings in publications and conference proceedings 
• Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued
• Supervise and examine PhD students, both within and out with the University
• Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within discipline
• Contribute to the administration/management of research across the Department/School
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University
• Contribute to some administrative activities within the University, typically relating to research
• Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding
• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour in line with university policies
• Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity duties document.

Person Specification

• A PhD relevant to the research area (or near completion), or equivalent PhD- level qualifications
• Extensive research experience, aligned to the theme, and scholarship within subject specialism
• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation 
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results
• Identify, recruit and consent research participants
• Conduct literature searching and reviewing
• Collect, analyse and interpret qualitative, multi and mixed method data using appropriate methods
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful qualitative, multi and mixed methods research
• Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action
• Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity knowledge, skills and experience document.

OH&DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Further particulars can be found here

Further information can be obtained by contacting key members of theme 2, Professor Laura Jones [email protected] and Professor Vicky Hodgetts Morton [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.