Research Associate in Cardiometabolic Health

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension

29 days of annual leave + bank hols

Ride to work & EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester is seeking a Research Associate in Cardiometabolic Health to join the NIHR-funded Maternity Disparities Consortium. You will support impactful research and knowledge mobilisation within the pregnancy, birth and early postnatal maternal health theme, focusing on cardiometabolic health outcomes.

You will work with teams across universities to map care pathways, engage stakeholders, and develop interventions that address inequalities and postnatal care challenges.

Qualifications

• PhD in behavioural, implementation science or related health field.
• Experience of intervention development or implementation science research.
• Experience of qualitative research including co-production/participatory approaches.
• Experience of active engagement with community groups and stakeholders.
• Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team, across institutions.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with colleagues from Sheffield Hallam University and Newcastle University, supporting others in a flexible manner.
• Conduct participatory system mapping using stakeholder and PPI workshops to map cardiometabolic care pathways and identify gaps/inequalities.
• Build on existing digital referral systems postnatal following gestational diabetes.
• Explore drivers of cardiometabolic inequalities and how they affect uptake of evidence-based behavioural interventions.
• Collaborate with Birmingham to build on digital prototype research of postnatal home blood pressure monitoring.

Education

PhD in behavioural, implementation science or related health field

Job description

Job reference: BMH-032501

Salary: £37,694 - £41,064 per annum depending on experience

Faculty/Organisational Unit: Biology, Medicine Health

Location: Oxford Road

Employment type: Fixed Term

Division/Team: Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine

Hours Per Week: Full time (1 FTE)

Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 15/10/2026

Contract Duration: Fixed term for 18 months

School/Directorate: School of Medical Sciences

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative Research Associate in Cardiometabolic Health to join the NIHR-funded Maternity Disparities Consortium. You will support impactful research and knowledge mobilisation within the pregnancy, birth and early postnatal maternal health theme, with a particular focus on cardiometabolic health and care outcomes.

You will be responsible for:

• To work collaboratively with colleagues from Sheffield Hallam University and Newcastle University, supporting others in a flexible manner
• To conduct participatory system mapping using stakeholder and PPI workshops to build a systems overview of existing cardiometabolic care pathways, gaps, intersectional inequalities, and potential barriers and facilitators to a cardiometabolic care bundle; to identify key actors critical to the project’s successful implementation
• To build on existing digital referral systems at Manchester in the postnatal period following a diagnosis of gestational diabetes
• To explore the wider/intersectional drivers of cardiometabolic inequalities and how these may act as barriers to following evidence based behavioural interventions, building on behavioural research at Sheffield and Manchester
• To collaborate with Birmingham to build on digital prototype research of postnatal home blood pressure monitoring

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• Have, or be about to obtain, a PhD in behavioural, implementation science or other related health fields
• Experience of intervention development and/or implementation science research
• Experience of qualitative research including co-production/participatory approaches
• Experience of active engagement with community groups and stakeholders
• Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team, across insitutions, and to develop and maintain good relationships with colleagues and healthcare professionals

Desirable Criteria

• Experience or an interest in patient and public involvement and engagement in research (PPIE)
• Experience of conducting research in NHS settings
• Experience of maternity-related research
• Experience of cardiometabolic health research

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

£37,694 to £41,064 per annum depending on experience