Research Associate

About the role:

Do you want to shape public health policy as a Research Associate in Food Policy?

Join our team on the UPForesight Project, funded by NIHR Public Health Research Programme, to help reduce ultra-processed food consumption in the UK.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research evaluating the health, equity, and economic impacts of food policy interventions.

What you would be doing:

As a Research Associate, you will identify and map national and international policy responses related to ultra-processed and minimally processed foods. You will review evidence on the effectiveness of regulatory and wider food-system interventions, and analyse how policies incorporate the Nova food processing classification. Using policy-mapping and evidence-synthesis methods, you will generate insights to inform potential policy scenarios.

You will also contribute to academic journal articles, briefing papers, internal and external reports, and presentations. You will work within a multidisciplinary team with expertise in public health, nutritional epidemiology, policy evaluation, and biostatistics, gaining valuable experience in a collaborative research environment.

What we are looking for:

We are seeking curious, motivated researchers with a strong interest in public health nutrition and policy. The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in epidemiology, nutrition, public health, or a closely related discipline.
• Extensive experience in evidence synthesis, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, with a strong publication record.
• The ability to analyse, interpret, and synthesise data from diverse sources.
• Proven ability to distil complex research findings into clear, practical recommendations for policy and practice.
• A team-oriented approach with a passion for working across disciplines to tackle public health challenges.

What we can offer you:

Join a world-leading research institution and play a key role in driving science for global impact. You will benefit from:

• Supervision and support from an experienced academic team with expertise in nutritional and clinical epidemiology, evidence synthesis, policy analysis, public health policy evaluation, health economics, and addressing health inequalities.
• Opportunities to collaborate with a broad network of UK and international partners.
• Professional development and dissemination opportunities to enhance your research and communication skills.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further Information

This role is for a fixed-term contract for 18 months (with possibility for an extension).

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Eszter Vamos (e.vamos@imperial.ac.uk)

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