Postdoctoral Research Associate in Participatory Research

KINGS COLLEGE LONDON; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 49,000; Part time

Job summary

A prestigious UK university is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Participatory Research to enhance the mental wellbeing of survivors of coercive control. This part-time role involves supporting peer researchers, analyzing qualitative data, and contributing to impactful academic publications and policy engagements. A PhD in social sciences, psychology, or related fields is required, along with strong collaborative skills and experience in participatory research.

Benefits

Professional development days

Collaborative work environment

Flexibility in work hours

Qualifications

• Experience of working with or supporting peer researchers with experience of violence, abuse, or mental health challenges.
• Evidence of published academic articles.
• Familiarity with ethical and data security governance.

Responsibilities

• Support and train peer researchers.
• Collect and analyze qualitative data.
• Lead development of the theoretical framework.

Skills

Collaborative and team-oriented mindset

Participatory qualitative research approaches

Strong written communication skills

Experience with peer researchers

Commitment to trauma informed practice

Creative and/or arts-based research methods

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Job description

Organisation/Company KINGS COLLEGE LONDON Research Field Sociology Ethics in health sciences Psychological sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 2 Oct 2025 - 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Other Job Status Part-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About us:

King’s College London is one of the world’s leading universities, renowned for its commitment to education, research, and service to society. The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is Europe’s largest centre for research and education in mental health. This post will be based in the Health Service and Population Research Department within the School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences and affiliated with King’s Women’s Mental Health (KWMH)– a leading centre for research on violence, abuse, and mental health. This post will also be part of the King’s Qualitative Applied Health Research Centre (QUAHRC), a vibrant interdisciplinary hub dedicated to advancing rigorous and innovative qualitative research in health.

About the role:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Participatory Research to join an exciting National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) project that investigates and seeks to enhance the mental wellbeing of survivors of coercive control. This unique study has been co-developed with the Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network’s (VAMHN) Lived Experience Action Group (LEAG) and aims to build a theoretical framework for recovery and wellbeing that will inform the design of future interventions and services.

The postholder will play a central role in supporting and training peer researchers, collecting and analysing qualitative data, and leading on the development of the theoretical framework. They will work closely with the wider project team to ensure that survivor perspectives shape the research process and outcomes, and will contribute to dissemination through academic publications, conferences, and non-academic outputs such as policy briefings and creative engagement.

The role will report to Dr Sharli Paphitis, Senior Research Fellow in Qualitative Methods, and will be embedded in a collaborative, supportive environment that values participatory and trauma-informed approaches. King’s Women’s Mental Health and VAMHN are committed to creating a workplace that prioritises wellbeing, offers flexibility, and actively welcomes applications from those with lived experience of violence, abuse, or mental health challenges.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge, survivor-centred research with real-world impact, while developing your own academic skills and profile within a world-class research institution.

This is a part time post (17.5 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract from 1st December 2025 until 31st December 2026.

Please note that as the role is part time, the salary listed in the advert will be amended accordingly (pro rata).

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset with a commitment to inclusive and survivor-centred research.
• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, psychology, public health, or related).
• Demonstrable experience in participatory qualitative research approaches and conducting qualitative data analysis.
• Experience of working with peer researchers, including providing guidance and support in qualitative data collection and analysis.
• A strong grasp of the use of theory in qualitative research, ideally using theory building approaches such as grounded theory.
• Evidence of strong written communication skills, with examples of published academic articles or other work.
• Familiarity with the ethical and data security and governance requirements of Health Research Authority approved research studies.
• A strong commitment to trauma informed practice, wellbeing, and self and collective care.
• Experience of conducting research on violence, abuse, and mental health.
• Experience of working with or supporting peer researchers with experience of violence, abuse, or mental health challenges.
• Experience with creative and/or arts-based research methods.
• Experience of sharing research findings with non-academic audiences

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information:

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held on the 29th October.

Grade and Salary:£45,031 to £48,607 per annum pro rata, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID:125605

Close Date:02-Oct-2025

Contact Person:Dr Sharli Paphitis

Contact Details:[e-mail]