Research Associate

Kingston University; Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Kingston University is seeking a Research Associate for CHAMPIONS-PT, an NIHR-funded programme co-designing and piloting a Community Champions intervention to improve vaccination uptake among Black African and Caribbean pregnant women and young children in London.

The role is based in the School of Nursing, Allied and Public Health, working with Professor Tushna Vandrevala. Start salary is £40,195 per annum, with a fixed-term of 2 years and emphasis on participatory public health research.

Qualifications

• PhD in social science, public health, or related discipline.
• Experience with participatory or community-engaged research approaches.
• Ability to communicate effectively with academic, professional and community audiences.

Responsibilities

• Support community engagement, lived-experience groups, co-design workshops and designathons.
• Undertake qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Support recruitment, study coordination and implementation and process evaluation of the pilot.
• Contribute to publications, reports, presentations and knowledge mobilisation.

Skills

Qualitative research

Participatory/engaged approaches

Stakeholder engagement

Education

PhD in social science/public health

Job description

The Role

Are you passionate about tackling health inequalities through community-engaged research? Kingston University is seeking a Research Associate for CHAMPIONS-PT, an NIHR-funded programme co-designing and piloting a Community Champions intervention to improve routine vaccination uptake among Black African and Caribbean pregnant women and young children in London.

Working with NHS and public health partners, local authorities, community organisations and people with lived experience, CHAMPIONS-PT will explore barriers to vaccination, develop culturally appropriate approaches and assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

Based in the School of Nursing, Allied and Public Health and working with Professor Tushna Vandrevala, you will:

• Support community engagement, lived-experience groups, co-design workshops and designathons.
• Undertake qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Support recruitment, study coordination and implementation and process evaluation of the pilot.
• Contribute to publications, reports, presentations and knowledge mobilisation.

This post offers an opportunity to develop expertise in participatory public health research, intervention development and health inequalities.

Please note, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check clearance is required for the role.

The Person

You will normally be completing or have completed a PhD in social science, public health or a related discipline. You will bring qualitative research skills, experience of participatory or community-engaged approaches, and a commitment to inclusive research.

Experience working with ethnically diverse communities or in maternal and child health would be valuable. You will be organised, collaborative and able to communicate effectively with academic, professional and community audiences.

Further Information

This is a full-time, fixed-term position available for 2 years with a starting salary of £40,195 per annum; planned start date of 1 December 2026.

Interviews are expected to be held on Wednesday, 25 November 2026.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Tushna Vandrevala.

Bring your true self, expertise, and passion to Kingston where we are continuing to strive to build a university where authentic inclusion and belonging is at its heart.

Every one of our staff and students’ identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences makes us who we are - so harness and embrace yours.

We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and those with disabilities.

We are a place-based organisation, proud of our location in Kingston and the civic role we play in our community. Our campuses inspire collaborative, innovative and creative communities. Being present on campus is important to us because it helps us to create a sense of belonging for both our staff and students. Therefore, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required, this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme.