Research Fellow

We are looking for a Senior Research Assistant/ Research Fellow with a background in Health Services Research, with experience in advanced quantitative methodologies. Some experience in qualitative methods is also desired. In our study we are investigating whether it is possible to predict how many nurses are needed on hospital wards from routinely collected data. You will have an interest in healthcare workforce research, with an enthusiasm for researching nurse staffing decisions that maintain quality and safety of patient care.  Your work will involve a variety of tasks including both individual and team working. The project offers opportunities to apply skills in qualitative data analysis of survey data, complex regression modelling and predictive data analytics.   

The role 

You will join an interdisciplinary research group whose work has contributed to health workforce policy and guidance in the UK and worldwide. You will work on a 2.5-year study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. This collaborative study involves co-Investigators from the University of Southampton, two NHS hospital Trusts, Imperial College London and NHS England. 

Working closely with co-Investigators, you will contribute to analysis tasks across the project. You will also be expected to contribute to tasks such as project management, data acquisition, database creation, workshop planning and preparation of publications, according to your previous experience and seniority. 

The post is funded until October 2027 with a fixed-term contract initially, but we will work with you to identify opportunities for ongoing funding. The post is available full-time, but part-time or job-share will be considered. Flexible working requests will be considered but this role is not suited to working wholly remotely. 

About you  

You will hold a PhD in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience. Candidates who are working towards a PhD will be considered for appointment as a Senior Research Assistant. Experience in undertaking research in health services or settings, including data collection and analysis, is essential. You should also be willing to learn more advanced analytical techniques and display a demonstrable interest in health workforce research.  

About us 

This post will be based within the School of Health Sciences. Health Sciences ranked 3rd in the UK for Research (REF 2021) and 13th in the World for Nursing (QS 2025). We provide a supportive environment for early career researchers. Our interdisciplinary team benefits from links with local Trusts and infrastructure such as the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex. Working at the University of Southampton gives you access to a wide range of benefits in addition to our competitive rates of pay. 

For informal enquiries or for any questions before submitting your application, please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Christina Saville (C.E.Saville@soton.ac.uk). 

Please include an academic CV with your application.

Applications will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification.  The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

Further details:

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.

Apply by 11.59 pm GMT on the closing date. For assistance contact Recruitment on +44(0)2380 592750 or recruitment@soton.ac.uk quoting the job number.

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