Senior Research Fellow

About the job:

This post will be based in Queen's Communities and Place (QCAP) a multidisciplinary engaged research unit that works with communities across Belfast. QCAP was established in 2021 as a direct expression of Queen's University Belfast's civic mission, a recognition that a university of this institution's scale and reach has not just the opportunity, but the responsibility, to work in meaningful, authentic partnership with the communities on its doorstep. It was founded on the belief that genuine, co-produced collaboration rooted in the real needs of local people could generate better outcomes for communities, better research and a more equitable relationship between the University and surrounding communities.

We are a team of over 20 researchers and support staff working on diverse research projects gathering an evidence base along three main interlinking disciplines, Community Health and Wellbeing, Education, Skills and Inclusive Innovation, and the Social Economy and Community Wealth Building. This post will lead research activities across the Community Health and Wellbeing Dimension within the Queen's Communities and Place (QCAP) initiative, ensuring successful delivery of the QCAP research, evaluation, and knowledge exchange programme. This role will focus on developing and implementing community-centric research methodologies that contribute to the implementation of a co-produced health and wellbeing strategy within the community.

This role will be based on campus but would have significant in-person engagement with communities, requiring flexibility around location and hours of work as the engagements will be dictated by community need.

Please note that as this is a re-advertisement (from February 2026), previous applicants for this post need not re-apply as their applications will not be considered.

About the person:

The successful applicant must have the following:

• An upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) or a Masters degree in a social science discipline.
• PhD in a relevant subject.
• Significant, recent relevant research experience working on a project that relates to community health and wellbeing.
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, particularly in the context of evaluating health and wellbeing programmes.
• Expertise in the key issues and challenges associated with engagement with communities for research studies.
• Demonstrable growing reputation in research within community health and wellbeing.
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage research programmes effectively on time and target.
• Experience of communicating research to lay audiences.
• Track record in securing and managing research funding.
• Publication record in health, wellbeing or research relevant to communities, commensurate with stage of career.

In addition we require a commitment to serving the community and promoting equality and inclusion with the ability to work collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures and /or perspectives.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information document on our website.

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