Research Fellow in Social Science

Job description

Applications are invited for a full-time Research Fellow in Social Science in the Department of Population Health Sciences, within the School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences. 

The post holder will join a team of social science researchers embedded within the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Using social science to examine how translational research is accomplished, researchers in this group explore key issues around the organisation of research within the NHS and NHS-university partnerships, the creation and circulation of value in the bioeconomy, health research practices, research impact, inclusivity in research design and delivery, and patient and public involvement. 

The post holder will lead work on the clinical research workforce, its development, professionalisation and contribution to the delivery of research.  They will develop new projects in this area and take on an existing project which explores the development of a new ‘clinical competency toolkit’ for Clinical Research Practitioners.  The Clinical Research Practitioner is an emerging and evolving profession in clinical research.  This actor is crucial in the delivery of clinical research, doing large amounts of the everyday labour and micro practices to facilitate medical research and knowledge production. 

The post holder will have completed a PhD in a social science discipline and have experience and expertise in qualitative research methods.  They will be someone who thrives in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, but is able to work independently, solve problems and deliver research to tight deadlines.  The post holder will be well organised and have excellent communication skills. With this role’s focus on the clinical research workforce, an interest in research practices and research on research is essential.  

This is a full-time, 3 year post. 

King’s is committed to fostering an environment of equality, diversity and inclusion.   

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 3 years 

This is a full-time -time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Lead work on the clinical research workforce  
• Support the development of this programme of work through preparation of research grant applications in collaboration with BRC/King’s College London colleagues 
• Collect and analyse data  
• Lead and contribute to articles for publication in high quality peer reviewed journals 
• To disseminate findings through presentations at relevant and high profile research meetings and conferences 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria 

1.       First degree in relevant discipline

2.       PhD in a relevant social science discipline (for example, sociology, anthropology, science and technology studies).

3.       Demonstrable experience in a wide range of qualitative techniques, including interview and participant observation.

4.       Experience of working in a clinical research environment

5.       Experience of designing, developing and managing research projects including leading or supporting the development and submission of grant applications and funding proposals  

6.       Evidence of writing high quality papers for peer review publication or reports and presenting research at meetings or conferences 

7.       Self-motivated, with the ability to work under pressure & to meet deadlines 

8.       Strong interpersonal and communication skills  

9.       Keen interest in at least one of the following: medical research practices/ research on research/ professions/ the organisation and everyday activities of research systems. 

10.   Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias 

Desirable criteria

1.       Previous research on the clinical research workforce and/or research on research.

2.       Experience of engaging in multidisciplinary research projects 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to specifically address the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification in their covering letter. 

Further information

The School of Population Health & Environmental Science’s research comprises Analytics (broadly defined as the discovery and interpretation of meaningful patterns in quantitative and qualitative data), Investigation (broadly exploring analytical solutions to complex problems at the individual as well as population level) and Applied Research (broadly using analytics, including laboratory investigations, to identify needs and propose and evaluate new solutions to global societal health and social problems). This informs our approach and focus to developing and conducting research that addresses major questions, such as long-term conditions, multimorbidity, and environmental impacts on population health.   

This is an exciting time to join the Department and the School as we will soon merge with the existing School of Life Course Sciences. This will bring together very considerable clinical, scientific, and population/global health strengths. There are already many examples of joint working and collaboration between the two Schools, and it is envisaged that there will be significant opportunities to collaborate further and draw upon the critical mass of clinical, methodological, and applied researchers in the new, integrated School. The School will be one of the largest in the Faculty with strong links to the NIHR BRC and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration and with King’s Health Partners Clinical Academic Groups and Institutes, with the enormous potential to further leverage these synergies. 

About the Faculty:   https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/index.aspx 

About the School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences:   www.kcl.ac.uk/sphes