Position Details

Institute of Applied Health Research

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £44,263

Grade 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to December 2025 

Closing date: 6th May 2024

Background

The Institute of Applied Health Research is looking to appoint a versatile mixed-methods Research Fellow, with research expertise and experience in Health Service Design and cultural aspects of service improvement and patient safety. 

This post is supported by the recently funded National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Midlands Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC). This provides an exciting opportunity to work within the core central theme of the PSRC to contribute to evaluations of how digital tools and patient preferences can support clinical decision making and reduce risks for patients in the key areas of acute medicine and maternal health. The role will provide complementary expertise to the work of the PSRC and contribute to the development of new research proposals and funding application in the area of patient safety

Role Summary

This job provides a superb opportunity for an experienced and committed health services researcher to join a dynamic and fast-paced multidisciplinary team working within academic and across NHS partners. The post-holder will be part of an internationally renowned team affiliated to others working directly to improve patient safety in maternal and acute care settings. This specific post will initially focus on contributing to applications for further research grants, with opportunity for the development of independent research. Contributions to delivery of safety related research related to the themes of the PSRC may also be considered.

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below:

• Contribute to the methodological design of research projects, advising on appropriate design and analysis and supporting writing study protocols
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding to support a developing research programme in clinical decision support tools for improving patient safety. You will also be encouraged to apply for Fellowship funding
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as  literature reviews, research interviews, survey research, and analysis of data-sets
• Analyse and interpret data
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters 
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques, and methods (e.g. understanding patient preferences)
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

• A honours degree and possession of a PhD (or one near to completion) in a health or social science or equivalent demonstrable experience in relevant discipline
• High level analytical capability
• Experience of academic writing including reports for research projects and academic publications
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information and ideas clearly
• Able to organise own workload and the ability to use initiative in working situations.
• Experience of working in a team and work effectively under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
• Experience of disseminating research findings through posters and oral presentations at academic conferences.
• Experience of mixed methods evaluation in applied health/medical research.
• Evidence of flair, creativity and commitment
• Proactive, enthusiastic, flexible and approachable
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries regarding this post may be made to Jo Sartori (Senior Programme Manager), j.m.sartori@bham.ac.uk or Prof Alice Turner (PSRC Co-Director) a.m.turner@bham.ac.uk or Professor Justin Waring (PSRC co-applicant) j.waring@bham.ac.uk

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. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.