Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Location: Stirling Campus
Contract type: Fixed term for 46 months       
Working pattern: Part time (80%FTE)            

The Post

Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences is offering a part-time (0.8FTE/4 days a week), fixed-term Research Fellow position to work with Associate Professor Line Caes on the Nuffield Foundation – Oliver Bird Fund -funded project “Challenges young people face in managing musculoskeletal chronic pain”

The project aims to improve understanding of the self-management challenges experienced by vulnerable young people (aged 12 – 24 years of age) living with musculoskeletal chronic pain by

• Identifying exactly what it is that young people with musculoskeletal chronic pain need to do to effectively self-manage their pain,
• Co-developing a tool to accurately measure how well young people can complete different self-management tasks,
• Testing how executive functioning develops differently in young people with and without musculoskeletal chronic pain, and
• Identifying how differences in executive functioning, socio-economic status, and parental support influence young people’s ability to complete self-management tasks.

In collaboration with Associate Professor Line Caes and the wider project team, the successful candidate will meet the aims of the project by employing a variety of mixed-methods approaches. Methods include: (1) conducting interviews with young people with MCP and clinicians, (2) hosting co-development workshops with young people with musculoskeletal chronic pain, parents, clinicians and charity representatives; (iii) analysing existing cohort data and (iv) gathering new longitudinal data in young people with and without musculoskeletal chronic pain. The successful candidate will also work with closely together with young people with musculoskeletal chronic pain and clinical experts at all stages of the project.

The post holder will join the Health Psychology Research Group www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/natural-sciences/our-research/research-groups/health-psychology-research-group

Suitable applicants could also apply for the Accredited Stage 2 Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at the University of Stirling whilst working in this post. This is a 3-year FT/4-year PT programme. See www.stir.ac.uk/courses/pg-taught/professional-doctorate-health-psychology for additional information.

Description of duties

The successful applicant will work with the PI (Associate Professor Line Caes) and will be responsible for running the day-to-day aspects of the project. Principally, this will involve:

• Project coordination
• Literature review
• Coordinating and regular communication with the project advisory group (PAG), consisting of young people with MCP, parents, clinicians, and charity representatives
• Conducting interviews with clinicians
• Support young people partners in conducting interviews with young people

Essential criteria

Qualifications

• A PhD/Doctoral level qualification in Health Psychology/behavioural science or equivalent OR Stage 1 Masters degree in Health Psychology (at Merit grade or above) PLUS significant practical experience in a health psychology/ behavioural science setting (e.g., This position is suitable for a individuals interested to pursue the Accredited Stage 2 Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at the University of Stirling whilst working in this post) OR a PhD/doctoral level qualification in another health relevant field PLUS significant practical experience /knowledge of behavioural science

Research

• Evidence of being able to conduct empirical research/enquiry independently
• Evidence of research experience, in both quantitative and qualitative study designs and analyses techniques
• Evidence of being able to draft papers for publication and report-writing

For further information, including a full description of duties, essential criteria and details on how to apply, please see Vacancy details | University of Stirling

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