Research Assistant/Associate (DI Study)

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Salary
Research Assistant - £33,951 to £35,608 per annum.
Research Associate - £36,636 to £46,049 per annum.

The Role
We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant/Associate to join the DISCOVER Implementation Study, a multi-site mixed-methods research programme investigating the sustainability and scale-up of DISCOVER, a schools-based mental health intervention for young people aged 16 to 18 years.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research Programme and led by Professor June Brown (King’s College London), the study is being delivered across five NHS regions in England in collaboration with Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), schools, and Higher Education Institutions responsible for MHST training.

The project builds on the successful BESST trial and aims to understand how DISCOVER can be implemented effectively and sustainably within real-world NHS and school settings. The Research Assistant/Associate will contribute to both the practical implementation of DISCOVER and the evaluation of how the intervention is delivered across different regions.

Working within the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary research team and regional partners. The role will involve conducting qualitative and quantitative data collection, including interviews, focus groups and observational fieldwork within schools and partner organisations. You will also support monitoring of implementation activities, engage with stakeholders including MHST teams and educators, and contribute to research outputs and dissemination activities.

We are looking for a candidate with experience of qualitative research methods and an interest in implementation research, mental health, and working with young people or within education or health settings. The successful candidate will have strong organisational and interpersonal skills, the ability to work collaboratively within a multi-site research project, and a commitment to high-quality and ethical research practice.

This role will involve engagement with partners across the region and occasional travel to research sites. Due to the nature of the work, appropriate DBS clearance will be required.

The 12-month fixed-term post offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to an important programme of research aimed at improving access to evidence-based mental health support for young people. For appointment at Research Associate, the candidate will require a PhD (or have submitted and awaiting viva) in psychology, public health, social sciences, education or a related field.

For more information, please contact Liam Spencer (liam.spencer1@newcastle.ac.uk).

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