Research Assistant reference: MHHEA1264

Are you an ambitious researcher, passionate about technology and applied social care wanting to take the next step in your development? Do you want to work with world-leading implementation and decision scientists, health economists, social policy experts and industry? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive Universities?

We are looking for a Research Assistant (Social Care Research and Development) to help the team deliver a 30-month research project exploring priorities of people using, developing and funding social care technologies: the SENSITISE project. The School of Healthcare is investing in its research capacity and capability, to work with world-leading researchers, furthering our aims of impactful applied health and care research of the highest quality, making a positive difference to society. The School of Healthcare is the lead partner in the NIHR School for Social Care Research (Phase IV) at Leeds, NICHE-Leeds (a partnership between science and care in the city) and the Accelerated healing and rehabilitation work of the NIHR Healthtech Research Centre in Leeds. You will work closely with colleagues in our research teams in the School and Faculty of Medicine and Health to help deliver a key part of our ambitious social care research portfolio.

We do research that focuses on questions that matter for social care, enhances quality of life and care for people receiving or working in care. Our areas of research include: technologies to enhance care and outcomes, quality and safety; the role of data and information in providing better care; supporting personal care (e.g. mouth care); social care workforce. The research methods we use include working with big data; social network analysis; qualitative and mixed methods studies; and complex intervention development and evaluation. We don't just “do research”; a key part of our work is developing capacity and skills and mobilising knowledge - working with the right people (people accessing social care, their families, care staff, providers, commissioners) to make a difference in practice and policy. We will expect you to be willing to work with our partners and diverse team members and be flexible in the approaches you use.

Focussing on your research, you will be a key member of our School. Working closely with academic colleagues, and overseen by Professor Carl Thompson, you will assist a Grade 7 researcher and wider team of co-applicants to successfully deliver our SENSITISE research project and help develop it into a longer programme of work. Our work is designed to influence social and healthcare practice and policy and develop the methods and science in social care. You will have the chance to help develop a programme of work designed to build on the successes and challenges of SENSITISE. You will have the chance to assist in disseminating our research findings in imaginative and impactful ways – including contributing to research based journal articles, presentations to scientists, policy makers and social care providers and funders. With a degree and ideally a Masters, with a formal research training component (such as an MSc in Health Sciences or social care research) in a subject area relating to applied health and care research, you will be able to demonstrate that you have the skills and experience to contribute to delivering research in social care and health contexts. 

What we offer in return 

26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – that’s 42 days a year! Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls. Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team, and self-development courses including languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies and much more. Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available. 

And much more! 

If you are looking for a role that will develop your research skills and you as a leader whilst working in a friendly team, apply today.

Visa Eligibility 

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.  For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Carl Thompson Email: c.a.thompson@leeds.ac.uk

Closing Date: 31 Mar 2025

Section: Research

Salary: £32,296 to £37,999 per annum