Research Assistant

About the role

This Research Assistant post will support data collection and analysis on a longitudinal study of children’s pathways through the healthcare system. 

We are looking to recruit a candidate with skills and experience in some of the following areas:

• Quantitative approaches such as longitudinal data analysis, analysis of large datasets and/or data science
• Experience of working with children and young people and their parents/carers and/or working in clinical settings / with clinical groups
• Participatory research/co-production with an emphasis on hard to reach and underserved populations
• Data management & ethics
• Dissemination skills including use of social media or public engagement
• Experience of engaging with end users of research, such as healthcare professionals or policy makers & other key stakeholders

The Research Assistant will work with a Post-doctoral Research Associate to support activities relating to the above.  

This includes assisting with recruitment and testing of children and their parents/carers, liaising with schools and alternative educational settings, and helping to analyse the resulting data using quantitative methods.

Previous experience of conducting research with children & young people or working in mental health setting is desirable, but not essential. 

We are looking to recruit someone who enjoys working as part of a team.  

You will also be expected to travel to undertake research or stakeholder engagement activities in the local area (Bath and North-East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire).  

With training, the successful candidate will also assist with the supervision and training of undergraduate placement students and research apprentices (this would not be expected in the early stages of the job - only when you are more experienced in the role).

We welcome applications from candidates with lived experience (either personal or within your family) of the areas covered within our research remit including common mental health difficulties, substance use issues or neurodiversity.   

Ideal Candidate

We welcome applications from candidates with lived experience (either personal or within your family) of the areas covered within our research remit including common mental health difficulties, substance use issues or neurodiversity. 

We welcome applications from candidates who have:

• A bachelor’s degree in psychology or related discipline
• Demonstrated specialist research knowledge and skills which can be applied to children and young people's mental health to contribute to research programmes 
• Ability to conduct individual research work and also work effectively as part of a team
• Excellent oral, interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to organise and prioritise own workload to meet required deadlines
• Willingness and ability to travel is essential, as the role involves visiting off-campus locations to engage with research participants.
• Commitment to working within professional and ethical codes of conduct
• Commitment to working in partnership with people with lived experience, service users, families and carers
• Ability to self-reflect, respond appropriately to constructive feedback, and to effectively emotionally regulate in demanding situations
• Ability to problem-solve and come up with creative solutions 
• Ability to be an effective team worker and contribute to a friendly, collegiate and inclusive working environment

Additional information

This is a full-time, fixed-term position expected to last 36 months.

Our current plan is to have online interviews, with interview questions provided in advance.  

For an informal discussion of these roles, or if you have any questions, please contact:

Professor Graeme Fairchild (gf353@bath.ac.uk) or

Dr Pamela Jacobsen, pcj25@bath.ac.uk), the Director of the MHRG.

Campus visits can be organised with sufficient notice.

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