Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Job description

 

We are now seeking to appoint a motivated Post-doctoral Researcher to support the SUSTAIN project, a project exploring the barriers and facilitators for female veterans in making a successful transition out of the UK Armed Forces into civilian life. This project will involve a literature review including interviews with key stakeholders in veteran care and policy, interviews with female veterans and quantitative data analysis to compare key outcomes between female veterans, their male counterparts and civilians. 

 

The post holder will be responsible for taking the lead on the qualitative component of this project including (but not limited to): supporting the day-to-day management of the project including; participant recruitment; qualitative data collection (via in-depth interviews); and data analysis (utilising NVIVO to support thematic or framework analysis. There will also be the opportunity to contribute to writing up aspects of the project for scientific publication and reports. If time allows, there will be the opportunity to support other projects.

 

The successful candidate will have a degree in epidemiology, psychology, social science or another relevant subject. They will have relevant experience in conducting qualitative interviews on sensitive topics including an awareness of how to deal with potentially vulnerable participants. They will have a strong track record of qualitative data analysis including the use of NVIVO and the application of thematic and/ or framework Analysis. They will be proactive and have a flexible approach to work. A background in military research or a familiarity with military culture would be beneficial, but is not essential.

 

The post holder will join the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London. KCMHR is the leading civilian UK centre of excellence for military, veteran and family health research. Independent of the UK Ministry of Defence and chain of command, our research has provided much-needed evidence on the health and well-being of serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.       

 

About the Faculty:   

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/pm/research     

 

About the King’s Centre for Military Health Research:   

https://www.kcmhr.org 

 

 

This post will be offered on a fixed term contract for 12 months 

This is a full time post - 100% full time equivalent. There is also the option to make this position part time – 80% full time equivalent if preferable.

 

 

Key responsibilities

•        Recruitment of participants, initiating and maintaining contact over the course of the study period.  

•        Explaining the study to potential participants with clarity and answering any queries they may have. 

•        Conducting semi-structured telephone interviews with participants.  

•        Dealing with potentially vulnerable participants in an appropriate and sensitive way with appropriate supervision from senior staff members. 

•        Management of qualitative data via NVIVO. 

•        Conducting qualitative data analysis employing thematic or framework analysis. 

•        Be flexible in terms of location of work and collaboration and assist with other studies within the department as required. 

•        This is a hybrid role but at least two days a week of in office working is expected. 

•        This project may involve a small degree of evening and weekend work as required to conduct the interviews.

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.      A degree in psychology, sociology, epidemiology, or other relevant field.  

2.      PhD in psychology, sociology, epidemiology, or other relevant field. 

3.      Experience of recruiting and liaising with study participants. 

4.     Understanding of how to manage clinical risk when working with study participants. 

5.      Experience conducting interviews on sensitive subject matters. 

6.      Experience of collecting qualitative data via interviews and focus groups. 

7.      Experience of qualitative data analysis, including use of NVIVO and application of thematic and/ or framework analysis. 

8.     Excellent written communication skills, including academic writing (peer-reviewed publications) and written reports.  

9.      Strong communication and presentation skills including experience presenting to a range of audiences from academic conferences to stakeholder engagement events. 

10.   An interest in military or veteran health, mental health, epidemiology or similar.  

11.    Ability to use initiative and work independently. 

 

Desirable criteria

1. A Masters degree in psychology, sociology, epidemiology or other field. 
2. Previous experience working within military or veteran health or mental health. 

 Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6. 

Further information

The interviews will be held in mid April (date tbc). Candidates will be asked to present on a qualitative research project that they have previously conducted for five minutes; this will be followed by a 20 minute panel interview.   

There is a possibility for flexible working, with the candidate able to work from home some days a week. However, there is an expectation that the candidate will be on campus regularly. This can be discussed at interview.  

For further information, please contact Dr Laura Rafferty at laura.rafferty@kcl.ac.uk