Post Doctoral Research Associate in Health Inequalities

Job Title: Post Doctoral Research Associate in Health Inequalities

Department: Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Sociology

Grade: Grade 7 

Working arrangements: Full time (35 hours per week)

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. 

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here

The Department

The Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Sociology at Durham University seek to appoint a talented researcher and scholar to the role of Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on The Practice Site, part of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities (DRP-MH). We welcome applications from those with research interests in the broad field of the Social Sciences and we are particularly eager to hear from applicants with expertise in health inequalities in areas of socioeconomic deprivation and marginalisation, substance use and addiction, and/or the medicalisation of distress.

This post is part of an exciting expansion of medical humanities at Durham funded by the Wellcome Trust. The Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities (DRP-MH) at Durham University aims to empower health and wellbeing researchers from different sectors and disciplines to co-develop new and experimental approaches to tackling health challenges, including those arising at the intersections of mental health and health inequalities. The Platform will create space for experimentation and intellectual risk-taking, support networks globally, and revolutionize the research capacity of the field of Medical Humanities. It will enable large-scale collaborations with community, creative, health and voluntary sector organisations, and involve over 200,000 global academics and lived experience researchers through international partnerships with leading Universities in the USA, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Africa and China. Platform researchers come from a wide range of disciplines including Literary Studies, Psychology, Philosophy, History, Sport and Exercise Science, Education and Sociology. The DRP-MH supports the Institute’s vision to improve human health through research on hidden experience.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Social Sciences with a particular emphasis on experiences of health and illness in marginalised and/or socioeconomically deprived communities The post holder will be responsible for designing and conducting research as part of The Practice, one of three collaborative Sites hosted by the Platform.  The Practice is a partnership with St Anthony’s Health Centre, a GP practice based in Walker, Newcastle Upon Tyne.  The Practice will develop new insights into intractable questions around health inequalities, mental health, and the treatment of complex multimorbidities. The postholder will work closely with Site leads Dr. Jesse Proudfoot and Dr. Jonathan Coates (a GP at St. Anthony’s Health Centre and In-Practice Fellow at the IMH) to design and conduct new research at The Practice, facilitate new projects from other Platform team members for the site, and support collaborations with other researchers and stakeholders. Practice site activities may include but are not limited to regular participation in Site meetings, workshops and other events; collaboration in methodological innovation with interdisciplinary and cross-sector partners through a range of modalities; the design and delivery of pilot and proof-of-concept studies; and taking shared responsibility for sustaining a flourishing research culture in the Site and Platform more broadly. The post holder will also be expected and supported to collaborate with other Sites and Researchers across the Platform. Regular participation (in-person as well as virtual) at Site, Lab and Platform activities, as agreed with the Line Manager is essential.

The research project benefits from being embedded in a GP practice serving a socioeconomically deprived community, affiliated with the Deep End Network of surgeries, as well as secondary care addiction services. It is therefore ideally placed to explore critical, and poorly understood aspects of health inequalities including the medicalisation of distress (from both patient and clinician perspectives), substance use and addiction (in particular how patients with addictions navigate services) among other issues.  The project aims remain broad at this stage and are open to accommodating relevant interests from the incoming applicant. In general, the project is interested in deepening understandings of health inequalities and experiences of health and illness among patients and clinicians. We aim to stimulate methodological innovation, for example through the use of group consultations which combine clinical intervention and research. Through embedding researchers in the GP practice, working together with clinicians and patients, we will be able to generate new approaches to the medical humanities, stimulating cross-fertilisation in real time between clinical and academic paradigms. 

The role offers an exciting opportunity to make an important contribution to the development of research and methodological innovation within the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities, while allowing you excellent opportunities to develop your career in an exciting and progressive institution. 

The Department of Sociology at Durham University was formed in 1964 - initially as a Department of Social Theory and Institutions. We currently deliver two successful undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Criminology; our criminology programme is 1st in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University guide 2024. We also run a professional masters programme in Social Work (Durham was Social Work University of the Year in 2022), a new MSc Sociology and an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice. We also support the core delivery of the Faculty’s ESRC Research Methods Training.

Sociology at Durham is continuing an ambitious programme of investment to consolidate and expand its research capacity in its overarching research themes. Information about all research themes can be found here .

All staff employed in the DRP-IMH have dedicated time for professional development and can access a wealth of existing and bespoke training opportunities in consultation with Site Leads. 

For more information, please visit our Institute and Platform pages at  https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/medical-humanities/ and Department pages at https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/sociology/

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Health Inequalities

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in a discipline of the social sciences with the ability to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University.  The University provides a working, research and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

Responsibilities: 

·         To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Site Leads

·         To work with the Site Leads and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.

·         To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.

·         To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Site leads

·         To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.

·         To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Site Leads and offering creative or innovative solutions.

·         To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.

·         To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.

·         To contribute to enhancing the quality of the research culture in the Site, Platform and wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity.

This post is fixed term for 36 months from 01/09/2024 to 31/08/2027

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post 1st September 2024.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications

•       A good first degree

•       A PhD in the social sciences (anthropology, sociology, human geography, social psychology, interdisciplinary studies) or a related field. The PhD must have been submitted at the point of application but may still be under examination.

Experience

•       Experience in conducting high quality academic research.

•       Outputs - Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals

•       Research Expertise – demonstrable interest and/or experience in conducting research on inequalities, socioeconomic deprivation, medicalisation, and/or substance misuse.

•       Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national/international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.

•      Experience in designing and conducting qualitative research (with participants of varied backgrounds) 

Skills

•       Qualitative research skills (e.g. ethnography, interviews, focus groups, participant observation, co-produced research) 

•       Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.

•       Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.

•       Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable Criteria:

•       Interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration - experience, skills and/or achievements in working across disciplines and/or sectors

•       Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.

•       A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.

•       Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.

•       Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: 

•       30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. 

•       The University closes between Christmas and New Year – please include or delete if not applicable.

•       We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled  into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

•       No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.

•       There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.

•       Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.

•       On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.

•       Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).

•       The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community

•       Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.

•       A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.

•       If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries:

Dr Jesse Proudfoot, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology: [email protected]  

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application: 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to [email protected] 

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays). 

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process

[email protected]

How to Apply 

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. 

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview. 

Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

a CV and

· A covering letter of up to 2 pages which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out above. 

Next Steps

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person for interview.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.  

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.