Research Associate

Role Description

Department

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time researcher to join a dynamic social care research team led by Professor Yvonne Birks at the University of York. The team is part of York’s School for Business and Society and has an international reputation for high quality applied health and social care research. It is one of six NIHR School for Social Care Research (SSCR) hubs in England (directed nationally by Professor Birks), researching topics such as dementia support and transitions, social care self-funding, occupational therapy outcomes and the homecare workforce. We work with a wide range of external partners across academic, statutory and voluntary sectors and host the Curiosity Partnership.

Role

We are looking to recruit a full-time Research Associate to be the main researcher on a feasibility trial of a peer-led intervention for people newly diagnosed with dementia. The study is NIHR Three Schools Dementia Research funded and has three phases:

1) Manualisation of the Good Life with Dementia course and development of facilitator training (in partnership with Innovations in Dementia)

2) Development and implementation of inclusive research processes across three sites, including one supporting people from South Asian communities

3) A feasibility trial with people newly diagnosed with dementia to test and refine these processes. 

You will undertake the day-to-day work of setting up and liaising with research sites, recruiting and consenting participants (including people with dementia), collecting qualitative and quantitative data, undertaking analysis and writing-up, with support from the principal investigator Kate Gridley. You will also coordinate manualisation and training development and ensure insights from stakeholders inform processes throughout. The successful candidate will become a Fellow of the NIHR SSCR and will be expected to present findings at relevant events/conferences.

Flexible/ remote working options are available. The team is based in Church Lane, an accessible building on the Heslington West campus of the University of York.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications needed

The successful candidate will have:

• completed a PhD in a social/health science (or have equivalent experience)
• knowledge of/demonstrable interest in research with and for people with dementia and/or inclusive research
• knowledge of health and social care research infrastructures and how these operate in practice
• excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• experience of carrying out both independent and collaborative research, including research involving people with lived experience
• experience of writing for publication and presenting to a range of audiences

Please refer to the job description for full details on the qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience essential to the post.

The post will start on (or around) 1^st June 2025 and finish 31^st August 2027. It is a full-time position.

Interview date: 29^th April 2025

For informal enquiries: Please contact Kate Gridley on kate.gridley@york.ac.uk

Condition of employment

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form.

Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork