Salary:Research Assistant: £31,396 to £32,982 per annum (pro rata)Research Associate: £33,966 to £44,263 per annum (pro rata)Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.Closing Date: 21 June 2024
The RoleWe are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic
Research Assistant/Associate with well-developed qualitative skills to support delivery of a project on
physical activity in young people who have been treated for sarcoma.Sarcoma is a general term for cancers that begin in the bone and soft tissue. This project will explore what helps and hinders survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult sarcoma to be physically active. It is a follow-on from our BEACON project which co-designed an intervention to encourage
physical activity in adolescent and young adult survivors of cancer.The project involves two phases. Phase 1 will involve in-depth interviews with 25-30 people aged under 10-24 years old who were diagnosed with sarcoma in the pelvis or extremities. Phase 2 will involve workshops with survivors and healthcare professionals to identify the design changes needed to refine the BEACON
physical activity intervention to meet the preferences and needs of adolescents and young adults living with sarcoma. Ultimately, we hope the data collected will form the basis of a follow-on grant to operationalise and test the intervention.This post is offered on a fixed term basis for a period of 12 months, in the first instance 80% FTE (i.e., 4 days a week).Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Morven Brown ( ) for an informal discussion.Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here:Find out more about our Research Institutes here:As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of . These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.
Key Accountabilities- Although working under the general guidance of an academic or Principal Investigator, the postholder will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial 'added value'
- Develop and carry out the specified project using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in the personal requirements
- Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required
- Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and in time develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
- Begin to write, with appropriate support, proposals for individual research funding or, where funders do not permit this, contribute to the writing of collective bids
- Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
- Contribute to the writing up of their research for publication and dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
- Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
- May be involved in the supervision, with guidance, of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or Research Assistants
- Will need to work with the support staff and, on occasions, with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute.
- May contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities
- Develop an awareness of University structures, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment
- Arrange, undertake, and lead analysis of phase 1 interviews and phase 2 workshops
- Prepare ethical applications and associated documentation, and liaise with clinical sites over set-up and R&D approvals
- Maintain an up-to-date overview of the relevant literature on physical activity among survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer
- Arrange and participate in project meetings
- Organise and support Patient and Public Involvement and co-design activities for the project
The PersonKnowledge, Skills and Experience- Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
- Detailed subject knowledge (e.g., cancer survivorship, behaviour change or physical activity) in the area of research
- Likelihood of advanced skills directly related to the research projects
- High level of analytical and problem-solving capability
- Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others
- Experience of research with clear transferable skills and some experience or awareness of the research environment
- Presentations at conferences and/or high-quality publications
- Significant experience of applying qualitative research methods for data collection (e.g., undertaking one-to-one interviews or focus groups) and analysis
- Experience of recruiting research participants to studies in a healthcare, social care or other similar setting
- Proven organisational skills, including in working with patients or other vulnerable populations and healthcare professionals
- Strong administrative skills
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills, which are required for working sensitively and effectively with cancer survivors, and health professionals
Desirable- Setting-up/opening/closing clinical sites and/or obtaining R&D or NHS ethical approvals
- Working with healthcare professionals to support recruitment of patients (or healthcare professionals) to research studies
- An understanding of health behaviours, behaviour change and behaviour change interventions
- Experience of cancer survivorship research
- Experience of systematic or scoping reviews
- Experience of undertaking PPI activities and of co-design approaches
Attributes and Behaviour
- Ability to work independently, taking initiative and being pro-active, as well as working as a supportive team member
- Ability to carry out research project work within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and producing research to an appropriate standard
- Flexibility, including a willingness to work flexible hours to fit around patients’, and health professionals’ needs and preferences
Qualifications- A Masters degree in health sciences, public health, health psychology, social sciences or a related field is required, or working towards a PhD in a relevant field, would be a significant advantage (Research Assistant)
- A PhD in the research area (e.g., health sciences, public health, health psychology, social sciences) is required (Research Associate)
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.At Newcastle University we hold a silver award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.Requisition ID: 27306
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