Research Associate - School of Psychology - 108209 - Grade 6

Position Details

School of Psychology 

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906

Grade: 6

Part Time (30 hours per week)

Fixed Term contract up to April 2028

Closing date: 3rd November 2026

Background

The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary research team delivering a randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating arts and culture for mental health in young people in collaboration with a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU). The study involves community based recruitment, meaningful youth involvement, and a qualitative process evaluation within the trial. The post will provide research and administrative support to ensure successful delivery of the project.

Role Summary

To assist in the delivery of an NIHR funded research project ORIGIN by supporting data collection, recruitment, qualitative research, youth involvement activities, and administrative coordination. The postholder will work within defined research protocols and procedures, contributing to high-quality research outputs under the direction of the Lead Investigator and senior team members.

Main Duties

Research Delivery

• Support the delivery of a randomised controlled trial in line with the approved protocol and study timelines, working closely with the research team and CTU.
• Assist with recruitment through community-based approaches, including liaison with partner organisations, schools, youth services, and voluntary sector organisations.
• Support participant engagement and retention activities as directed.
• Maintain accurate research records and databases in accordance with data protection, ethical approval, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) requirements.
  Process Evaluation and Qualitative Research
• Collect qualitative data as part of the study process evaluation, including conducting semi-structured interviews and/or focus groups.
• Assist in the preparation of interview schedules and participant materials.
• Support qualitative data management and analysis (e.g. coding and thematic analysis) under supervision.
• Contribute to internal reports, summaries, and sections of academic outputs.
  Youth and Public Involvement
• Support youth involvement activities linked to the research, including organising meetings or workshops with youth advisory groups.
• Assist in ensuring research materials and activities are accessible, appropriate, and inclusive for young people.
• Help capture and reflect youth perspectives within the research process.
  Administration and Study Support
• Carry out administrative tasks directly related to the delivery of the research project, including organising meetings, minute-taking, and coordinating communications.
• Assist with preparation and organisation of study documentation (e.g. recruitment materials, ethics paperwork, progress updates).
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to support smooth day-to-day running of the project.
  General
• Contribute to team meetings and collaborative working across the project.
• Deal with routine problems affecting research delivery, referring more complex issues to senior staff.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, acting in accordance with university policies and the Equality Act 2010.

Person Specification 

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g. psychology, social sciences, public health, health research).
• Practical experience of working on research projects.
• Experience of collecting qualitative data (e.g. interviews, focus groups).
• Experience of working with children, young people, or community groups.
• Ability to organise workload effectively and manage multiple tasks to deadlines.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a research team.
• Understanding of research ethics, confidentiality, and data protection.
• Experience contributing to research reports or publications
• Completed (or will need to have completed) Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Desirable
•    Postgraduate qualification or training in a relevant field.
•    Experience of working on a randomised controlled trial or complex intervention study.
•    Familiarity with CTU-supported research and/or 
•    Experience of supporting public or youth involvement in research.
•    Experience using qualitative analysis software (e.g. NVivo).

Additional Requirements
•    Willingness to travel to community locations as required.
•    Enhanced DBS clearance (or willingness to obtain)
•    Occupational health clearance and need to obtain a research passport

Pre-employment OH&DBS

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and/or DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquiries to Rebecca Syed Sheriff, email: [email protected] 

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

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. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.