Research Assistant/Associate

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

The Role
We are seeking an experienced qualitative researcher for a 24 month position to work across two NIHR programmes of work: the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation and The NIHR Innovation Observatory.

The NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation (BTRU) is a collaboration between University of Cambridge and Newcastle University. The NIHR Innovation Observatory is a £26M initiative, that brings together information specialists, data scientists, text mining, horizon scanning and evidence synthesis researchers to provide essential intelligence in health and social care innovation to several national agencies.

This position would suit a researcher with an interest in transplantation and/or in health and social care innovations, with well-developed skills in conducting qualitative research and the ability to balance competing priorities.

Research relevant to the BTRU will account for 60% of the role as the post-holder will primarily lead the data collection and analysis of the qualitative sub-study embedded within the NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation funded E-CLAD UK clinical trial. E-CLAD UK seeks to ascertain whether Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) therapy for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) after lung transplantation can halt the progression of the disease.

This qualitative sub-study will explore participants' experiences of living with CLAD and of receiving ECP therapy. This will increase understanding of the lived experience of CLAD and whether ECP therapy is an acceptable treatment for people with CLAD, informing any future NHS implementation plans.

The development of the trial and the qualitative sub-study has been informed by patient and public involvement (PPI) and PPI input will be central to the qualitative sub-study throughout. The post holder will work closely with the trial's PPI lead developing and implementing a plan to maximise impact from the project.

For the remaining 40% of the role, the post holder will work within the Innovation Observatory. The post holder will be part of a large multi-disciplinary team, contributing to the delivery of the Insights Programme. The Insights programme also aims to promote an active partnership between the Innovation Observatory and the public, providing an opportunity to participate in research decision making upon early-stage identification of high-quality health and social care innovation. This is done through the use of techniques grounded in theory developed through participatory and qualitative research as well as emerging ‘soft' intelligence and horizon scanning methods. Within this role you will look to gather intelligence on the experiences, behaviours and attitudes of relevance to health and social care innovation how they are evolving over time and the potential impact that this will have on the health system.

This post is being offered on a full-time or part-time basis. If taken up on a part-time basis (0.6 FTE) the focus of the role will be to cover responsibilities linked to the E-CLAD UK clinical trial.

This post is fixed term for a period of 24 Months.

For informal enquiries contact: Professor Catherine Exley [email protected] .

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/ .

Find out more about our Research Institutes here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/ .