Research Fellow

This project offers an opportunity to play a central role in the development and evaluation of an innovative digital decision aid that supports shared decision‑making in diabetic footcare. You will work at the intersection of patient experience, clinical practice, and digital innovation to help translate evidence and lived experience into a practical tool embedded within NHS care.

About the role

You will play a central role in the development and feasibility evaluation of the SMART Footwear digital decision support tool, working within the School of Health Professions at the University of Plymouth. You will support the translation of an existing paper based Footwear Decision Aid into a digital module within the NHS CONNECTPlus app, ensuring that the tool is clear, usable, accessible, and relevant for people living with diabetes and for the clinicians who support their care.

Reporting to Professor Sally Abey, Principal Investigator for the study, you will work closely with academic colleagues, podiatrists and orthotists across Torbay and South Devon, and with NHS Digital Futures partners leading the technical development of the app. A key focus of the role is working confidently with patients, clinicians, and digital specialists to gather and interpret different forms of input, including lived experience, clinical perspectives, and usability feedback, and to translate these into content and design refinements that can be implemented digitally.

For more information on School of Health Professions please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools

The expected start date for this position is 1 October 2026.

We can accommodate working from home for this role, flexibility to be on-site will be expected due to business needs.

The successful candidate may be required to obtain an ATAS Certificate prior to this research being undertaken.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Sally Abey: by email at s.abey@plymouth.ac.uk

What we’re looking for

You will lead and support co-design and patient involvement activities, facilitate interviews and feedback sessions, and contribute to the delivery of the feasibility and implementation study, including qualitative data collection and analysis. You will help synthesise findings into practical recommendations for tool refinement and future trial design, and contribute to reporting, dissemination, and preparation for potential progression to a larger cluster randomised controlled trial.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

About us

The role sits within a collaborative and interdisciplinary research programme focused on shared decision making, digital health, and improving outcomes for people living with long term conditions. You will bring strong qualitative research skills, experience of co-design and patient involvement, and the ability to work flexibly and constructively across organisational and professional boundaries.

Application Process

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.

Closing date – 2^nd August 2026 – 12 o’clock midnight

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