Research Fellow

Grade 7 (31) £38,205 per annum
24 months, fixed term contract

We wish to appoint an experienced researcher to work on a pioneering new project funded by the Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Integrated Care System Research and Innovation Hub.

Non-adherence (i.e. not taking medication as directed by health care providers) is common, critical, and costly.  Around 50-75% of people aged 65 years and older do not take medication as prescribed often because they forget.  Poor adherence produces significant health losses through inadequate symptom management and more hospital admissions.  Automated medication reminders (AMRs) are an innovative assistive technology which can support adherence. These devices use visual and sound alarms to remind people to take medication. They also have enhanced features to inform up to three family members or carers to confirm that medication has or has not been dispensed from the device at the medication time, thus reducing adverse events.  The project will test the use of AMR devices on older patients recruited from pharmacies across BLMK.

The successful candidate will have a PhD or Masters in a health-related topic, with an interest in health services research. They should possess strong quantitative and/or qualitative skills and an understanding of conducting and evaluating complex interventions with underserved populations.

The post holder will need to establish effective collaborations with pharmacists and patients to ensure the successful delivery of the intervention across pharmacies in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills will be essential.

The role will primarily involve managing the day-to-day running of the project, liaising with the research team across different sites, and supervising research staff.  A further key task will be publicising the study to the general public and professionals. Expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis is desirable.  Experience working with various stakeholders, including charitable organisations, public involvement representatives, and research teams, is welcomed.

The successful candidate will be joining the Institute for Health Research, which is an international centre for research excellence; 100% of our research is “internationally excellent” in impact, and 73% of our research outputs are 3* or 4* - “internationally excellent or world-leading” - Research Excellence Framework 2014.

Informal enquiries can be made to: Dr Erica Cook, Associate Professor, University of Bedfordshire, [email protected]

Interviews will be held on 18th July 2024

For a full job description and person specification please click here

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The University is committed to equality of opportunity and values the diversity of all its workforce and student population.

To apply:

Please log on to our website www.beds.ac.uk/jobs and complete the online application.

Please note CVs will only be accepted in addition to a fully completed application form.

All applications must be received by midnight on the closing date. Applications will not be accepted after this deadline.