Research Fellow (106324-0625)

About the Role

For informal enquiries, please contact Dieter Wolke (Professor) at d.wolke@warwick.ac.uk.

We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.

Mandatory Born Very Preterm: A Natural Experiment of How Early Adversity and Social Environment affect Life Course Development (PRETERM_LIFECOURSE). (More information on the grant here.)

KEYWORDS: – Preterm, Resilience, Aging, Health, Psychology, Developmental adaptations, Data analysis.

What scientific question will you investigate?  Outline of the project aims:
This post will focus on investigating how developmental adaptations after preterm birth and favourable environmental or genetic factors contribute to resilience such as better-than-expected outcomes or decelerated ageing. Data are derived from the Bavarian Longitudinal Study with 10 assessment points since birth with the current assessment at 38-40 years. Other publicly available databases may also be included. The research fellow will be conducting and supervising innovative data analysis of protection and resiliency after early adversity and its effects on the next generation.

Candidates should have experience of advanced statistical analysis e.g., regression, growth and structural equation models to determine protective and resiliency factors for adaptive functioning into middle adulthood.

Furthermore, some experience in coordinating and working with interdisciplinary collaborators of cohort or registry data would be an advantage.

The major outcome is to contribute to the success of this unique multifaceted project and high impact publications.

About the research group:
The research fellow will be part of the Warwick Lifespan and Neonatal Group (WarwickLNG), a multi-disciplinary group of Assistant professors, postdocs, research assistants and PhD students, and collaborate with researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Helmholtz Institute in Munich and the University of Bonn.

We have further international collaborations with the University of Helsinki and University of Oulo for this project and work closely with genetic researchers at the Louis Pasteur Institute, Paris and Max-Planck Institute in Nijmwegen in a related project. You will be embedded within a vibrant multi-disciplinary research group with international partners with many learning opportunities.

The major outcome will be the delivery of high-quality data analysis, production of peer reviewed manuscripts with the team and dissemination of results of analysis of how prematurity or risky start in life can be altered by exposures to negative or positive environments across childhood and early adulthood.

About You
We are looking for someone with proven expertise or knowledge in the analysis of longitudinal data, i.e. research that is conducted across multiple assessment waves. Having experience in coordinating or collaborating in complex interdisciplinary projects would be desirable and conducting studies.

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the 'Apply' button.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.

CLOSING DATE: Monday, 14th July 2025, 11.55pm.

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