Research Associate

Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to a project Addictions Policy Research Unit (PRU) working with Professor Heather Wardle and Professor Gerda Reith. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the Addiction PRU deliverables and GRG research strategy.

2. Perform data management, cleaning and editing of a range of existing survey data to enable and conduct secondary analysis to explore and understand gambling-related harms.

3. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

4. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of the Addictions PRU, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

5. Conduct systematic reviews and evidence reviews of research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

6. Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

7. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the Addictions PRU and wider academic and policy community

8. Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

9. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.

10. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

11. Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

12. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Directors of the Addictions PRU and GRG.

13. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, Inspiring People Changing The World.

Knowledge/ Qualifications

Essential:

A1.Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) or alternatively possess the equivalent in professional qualifications and experience, with experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s)

A2.Comprehensive understanding of research related to alcohol, tobacco or nicotine, other drugs or gambling or other closely-related fields

A3. Knowledge of quantitative analysis techniques

A4.Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher

Desirable:

B1.Substantive knowledge of gambling research field

Skills

Essential:

C1.Skills in data management of survey data, including combining datasets, production of derived variables, cleaning and editing data.

C2.Quantitative analysis of survey data, including descriptive statistics and modelling

C3.Ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and presentation modes to a wide range of audience, including policymakers and practitioners

C4.Proven initiative and judgement to resolve problems independently and suggest creative solutions for tackling barriers encountered.

C5.Proven planning, organising and prioritising abilities including maintaining accurate records relating to project data and project progress.

Experience

Essential:

E1.Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner

E2.A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality journals/conferences

E3.Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities

E4.Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design & analysis of experiments & drafting of papers.

E5.Experience in undertaking independent research

E6.Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

E7.Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

Desirable:

F1.Experience of working effectively on mixed methods research projects

F2.Experience of conducting research into public policy

F3.Experience of conducting systematic literature reviews outside of taught degree programmes

F4.Ability to work effectively across projects

F5.Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams

F6.Experience of collaborating with researchers at other institutions

F7.Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, and of the distortions that can be associated with stigma and discrimination

F8.Willingness to work in, or away from, the office as needed

F9.Willingness and ability to travel to different areas of the UK for face-to-face meetings when needed

Additional Information 

The Addictions PRU has recently been commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care for England, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and starts in January 2024 for an initial 5-year period.

The PRU is a collaboration involving 10 UK universities led from the Addictions Department at King’s College London (KCL), the University of Sheffield’s Alcohol Research Group and the University of Glasgow’s Gambling Glasgow Research Centre. Its aim is to inform policymaking relating to alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, other drugs, and gambling. Research conducted within the PRU will draw on a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and will incorporate different disciplinary perspectives including public health, epidemiology, psychology, health economics, operational research and psychiatry. The PRU will particularly focus on research that relates to public policy and practice and, especially, research that can play an important role in guiding future policymaking.

Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed, and should be addressed to Professor Heather Wardle, [email protected], in the first instance.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £39,347 - £44,263 per annum.

This post is full time and fixed term for 2 years.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.