Research Associate
19939BR
Cardiff School of Social Sciences
Research
Cardiff University School of Social Sciences is seeking to recruit a Research Associate to work within Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer) and the ESRC funded leadership hub Behavioural Research UK (BR-UK). BR-UK is a £10.6m ESRC investment in leadership for behavioural research, across 4 themes i) environments and sustainability; ii) health and well-being; iii) resilient communities and iv) organisations, markets and the economy. The hub is led by the University of Edinburgh and University College London. Themes 1 and 2 are co-led from Cardiff University. The postholder will undertake research within the Health and Well-being theme, co-led by Prof Graham Moore (Cardiff University) and Dr Laura MacGowan (Queens University Belfast). The postholder will also contribute to research grant development and other work of the DECIPHer research centre.
This post is part-time (28 hours per week, 0.8 FTE), fixed term from 1st April 2025 until 18th September 2028.
Salary: £40,497 – £45,413 per annum, pro-rata for hours worked (Grade 6), with 4 annual increments up to £45,413 per annum, pro-rata (final salary at top of grade). New appointments are usually made at the starting point of the salary scale.
Responsible to Professor Graham Moore
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Professor Moore, MooreG@cardiff.ac.uk
Date advert posted: Thursday, 22 May 2025
Closing date: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment – Research – Cardiff University
Job Description
Research
- To conduct research within the field of behavioural research and public health and contribute to the overall research performance of the Research Centre, School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences.
- To collaborate effectively across the ESRC funded Behavioural Research UK leadership hub and the Health and Care Research Wales funded DECIPHer research centre
- To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals
- To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level
- To undertake administrative tasks associated with the project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures to ensure accurate and timely reporting
- To prepare research protocols and research ethics and governance applications as appropriate
- To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field
- To participate in Centre and School research activities.
- To build and create networks internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects
Other
- To engage effectively with third sector and public sector organisations, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the Research Centre and School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the Centre and the School and the enhancement of their regional and national profile.
- To undergo personal and professional development appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
- To participate in administration and activities to promote the Centre, the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
- Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications and Education
- Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within one or more of the following research fields:
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- Behavioural science/research
- Public health
- Interventions
- Qualitative and mixed method health research
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- Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field
- Proven ability to publish in international journals and/or other research outputs
- Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies
Communication and Team Working
- Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication
- Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals
Other
- Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work
- Proven ability to work without close supervision.
Desirable Criteria
- Evidence of collaborations with policy and practice partners.
- Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.
- Evidence of ability to participate in and develop internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the Centre and School.
Additional Information
The post-holder will be based within the DECIPHer public health research centre and the ESRC funded leadership hub Behavioural Research UK (BR-UK). BR-UK is a £10.6m ESRC investment in leadership for behavioural research, across 4 themes i) environments and sustainability; ii) health and well-being; iii) resilient communities and iv) organisations, markets and the economy. The hub is led by the University of Edinburgh and University College London. Themes 1 and 2 are co-led from Cardiff University. The postholder will undertake research within the Health and Well-being theme, co-led by Prof Graham Moore (Cardiff University) and Dr Laura MacGowan (Queens University Belfast). The postholder will also contribute to research grant development and other work of the DECIPHer research centre.
Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer
Established via UKCRC funding as one of 5 Public Health Research Centre of Excellence in 2009 – 2019, DECIPHer is now a Health and Care Research Wales funded public health research centre of excellence. It continues to develop and evaluate complex interventions for public health improvement, with a primary focus on children and young people. Since 2009, DECIPHer has aimed to conduct research that:
• leads to measurable improvements in the health of children and young people
• co-produces and evaluates interventions at multiple ecological levels that are effective in improving health and reducing health inequalities, and can be maintained in real world practice
On going funding for DECIPHer has ensured that we continue to provide:
- a platform for internationally excellent multidisciplinary research in the development and evaluation of complex interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people and address health inequalities
- an internationally excellent environment for multidisciplinary public health improvement research career development
- a focal point in Wales for collaboration between academia, policy, practice and the public in public health improvement research that will maximise its relevance, innovation, translation and impact.
DECIPHer hosts the School Health Research Network and an internationally recognised programme of research and teaching in methodology for the development and evaluation of interventions. In the next five years, DECIPHer will focus on health improvement research across four core research programmes: Healthy public policy, Healthy social relationships, Healthy Settings and Organisations, Methodological innovation in complex intervention science
DECIPHER is located at the Cardiff University Social Science Research Park (SPARK) alongside a large number of other social science research centres. It is part of the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University and works across the University, including colleagues in the Cardiff Trials Unit The Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health and the School of Medicine. The School of Social Sciences is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and teaching across a range of subject areas, including sociology, policy studies, criminology, education and social work
The School of Social Sciences holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in academia. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We actively encourage women to apply. We will also always consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities.
Salary Range Min.
40,497
Salary Range Max.
45,413
Job Category
Academic – Research
Grade
Grade 6