Graduate/Postdoctoral Research Assistant

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Assistant or Postdoctoral research fellow at 50% FTE to support the work of Dr Emma Cockcroft and to join a funded ESRC Impact Acceleration Account project focused on co-creating an educational resource to help coaches support athletes living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This post will support the day-to-day coordination and delivery of the project, working closely with academic staff, external partners, and stakeholders.

This role is available from July on a fixed-term contract of around a year, exact end date subject to confirmation.

The team are open to appointing at either GRA or PDRA level. Please view the attached job descriptions for a description of the differences.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in managing the full project lifecycle, including stakeholder engagement, resource development, pilot testing, and dissemination. Key responsibilities will include coordinating co-creation workshops with partners such as BreakthroughT1D and the Activity Alliance, synthesising insights from stakeholder feedback, supporting the adaptation and development of educational materials (videos, infographics, and digital content), and facilitating pilot implementation with national sports organisations. The post-holder will also coordinate data collection through surveys and interviews to evaluate the resource’s impact and support the refinement and dissemination of the final product.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an innovative, interdisciplinary project that combines research, education, and real-world impact in sports and health..

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and manage co-creation workshops and stakeholder engagement activities
• Develop recruitment materials and communicate with stakeholders to support participation
• Synthesise qualitative data and insights from workshops to inform resource development
• Collaborate with colleague to create and refine educational content, including videos and infographics
• Coordinate pilot implementation with National governing bodies and sports organisations
• Organise and manage data collection (surveys, interviews) to assess resource impact
• Analyse feedback and contribute to iterative refinement of the educational resource
• Assist with dissemination activities, including organising meetings and supporting wider implementation plans

About you

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study or equivalent experience and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. The successful applicant will be able to work independently and communicate and collaborate effectively with members of the project team, including academic staff, partners from BreakthroughT1D, the Activity Alliance, and other stakeholders involved in supporting athletes with type 1 diabetes. They will play a key role in building connections between researchers, sports organisations, and the wider community, supporting the co-creation, cultural adaptation, and refinement of educational resources for coaches. The role requires strong organisational and stakeholder engagement skills to ensure the effective development, piloting, and dissemination of an evidence-based, stakeholder-informed resource for coaches working with athletes living with type 1 diabetes

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Further information

For further information please contact Dr Emma Cockcroft, e-mail e.j.cockcroft@exeter.ac.uk or telephone (01392) 722764.

The closing date for completed applications is 08/06/2025.  Interviews are expected to take place soon after.

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