Research Associate

Location:  Aston University Main Campus

Contract Type: Fixed Term (31/01/2027)

Basis:  Full Time

Interview Date:  Thursday 16 April 2026

Are you passionate about child nutrition and behavioural science? Aston University’s Psychology of Eating in Adults and Children’s (PEACh) research group is seeking a motivated researcher to join the APPETItE project (Appetite in Preschoolers: Producing Evidence for Tailoring Interventions Effectively).

In this role, you will help develop materials and a web app to support parents whose children exhibit aversive eating behaviours, transforming co-created guidelines into practical resources. Collaboration with families and non-academic partner organisations will be central to ensuring the materials are useful and accessible. You’ll recruit parents of young children with avid eating, engage them to identify what makes intervention resources most helpful, and work together to select parent-friendly evaluation measures.

Supporting digital designers, you will help create engaging web app content and integrate it into the Child Feeding Guide, ensuring website analytics and user feedback inform the intervention’s effectiveness.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD (or be near completion) in Psychology, Nutrition, Dietetics, or a related field, and experience working with non-academic stakeholders, as well as co-designing research or interventions. Familiarity with behaviour change techniques, the COM-B model, and intervention design is essential. Experience working with children, families, or vulnerable groups, and web design skills are highly desirable.

If you are keen to join a collaborative team at the forefront of child feeding research and contribute to resources that empower parents, we invite you to apply and make a positive impact on families’ lives.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Jacqueline Blisset at j.blissett1@aston.ac.uk.

What we offer:

• Aston University is a vibrant campus located within Birmingham city centre, which has excellent transport links via bus or train.
• Hybrid working is possible for this role, which means working both on campus and from home depending on the activity. Further information on hybrid working can be found here.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• A generous annual leave scheme with 30 days bookable leave and a further 13 days of bank holiday and University closure days.
• Everyday discounts on a number of activities and retailers.
• Great family-friendly policies.
• On-site gym and pool with discounted staff membership available.
• Further information on our Benefits and Rewards can be found here.

This role may meet the requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

If you require sponsorship, Aston University will assess eligibility if you are shortlisted for the role.

Please note we are unable to confirm individual eligibility before shortlisting.

See here for more information on Skilled Worker visa eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

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