Research Assistant in Drug Education

The Drug and Alcohol Research Centre is recruiting a Research Assistant in Drug Education to work on a NIHR funded project, A realist evaluation of drug education for 13-15 year olds in alternative education and deprived areas (REAL-DEP, Phase 3). 

The Research Assistant will work closely with Professor Karen Duke and Professor Betsy Thom. The researcher must have a postgraduate degree in a relevant social science discipline and experience in mixed methods research. A strong understanding of qualitative research design and experience of using a variety of qualitative research methods (conducting interviews and focus groups) and analysis techniques (eg. NVivo) are essential. The researcher must have excellent project management, planning and organisational skills.

 The researcher will:

1) provide administrative and project management support. 

2) assist with the fieldwork in schools by conducting interviews and focus groups with teachers and pupils and overseeing questionnaire completion. 

3) be responsible for ongoing liaison with teachers participating in the research. 

4) oversee and manage the data collection. 

5) analyse qualitative data. 

6) write up the results. 

There will be opportunities to contribute to the dissemination of the research (i.e. writing research reports, conference papers and peer-reviewed journal articles). 

The post holder will require an enhanced DBS check as they will be working closely with schools and children. Some travel in Scotland and England is required.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service certificate. You are therefore required to disclose details of any criminal record. ALL criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings, even if they would otherwise be regarded as spent under this Act must be disclosed, as well as any other information that may have a bearing on your suitability for the post, including pending prosecutions.

The University will apply for a DBS certificate before your appointment is confirmed.

If you wish to discuss the job in further detail please contact Betsy Thom, Professor of Health Policy, email: [email protected] or Karen Duke, Professor of Criminology, email: [email protected] 

Closing Date: 23 Jan 2026

Department: Academic

Salary: £37,357 per annum Fixed Term - 14 months