Research Associate

Department

As one of the longest-established and most distinguished in the UK, the Department of Sociology has played an important role in the development of the discipline internationally. Our colleagues’ commitment to research resulted in the Department being ranked by the Times Higher Education as fourth in the UK for research and first for research impact. We are a collegiate department with a vibrant, research-intensive group of staff. We are based in a modern building on the University’s East Campus.

Role

The Department of Sociology, along with research partners, RAND have been commissioned by National Institute of Health, Policy Research Programme to evaluate the Thalidomide Health Grant. Thalidomide survivors are supported by a government health grant that provides them with the means to obtain support for their long-standing disabilities. This is currently being reviewed by the Department of Health and Social Care for England and Wales. This research will inform the Government review.

You will be a member of the team working under the direction of Dr Elizabeth Newbronner and Professor Karl Atkin at the University of York. The post is based in the Department of Sociology.

The role is part of the qualitative for the qualitative evaluation and the role will involve contributing to the design, conduct, write-up and dissemination of the qualitative component of the research, which includes fieldwork with thalidomide survivors, their families and care professionals. The role will also require extensive liaison with policy stakeholders.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form. Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The post is available immediately for a fixed-term period of up to 30 months at an anticipated 14.8 hours per week, 40% of full time.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• PhD in sociology
• Knowledge of qualitative methodologies and associated research techniques
• Knowledge of different sociological approaches to understanding disability, including use of critical and social models
• Knowledge of academic debates about the sociology of health and social care in the UK
• Highly developed communication skills to engage effectively with a wide ranging audience, both orally and in writing, using a range of media
• Ability to write up research work for publication in high profile sociological journals and engage in public dissemination
• Experience of theoretically informed qualitative analysis
• Experience of gaining National Health Service ethical approvals
• Experience of writing up research work for publication
• Experience of undertaking qualitative interviews
• Experience of patient and public involvement
• Ability to plan and prioritise own work in order to meet deadlines, including using initiative to plan research programmes

For informal enquiries: please contact Professor Karl Atkin at karl.atkin@york.ac.uk.

Interview date: To be confirmed

Condition of employment

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form.

Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

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