Research Associate - (NIHR - Creating Healthy Jobs)

Cardiff University; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a Research Associate to investigate the relationship between job quality and health. This full-time role aims to publish high-quality research and contribute to the overall performance of the university. Ideal candidates will have a PhD in economics and experience in health or labour economics. The position offers a salary of £41,064 - £46,049 per annum and is fixed-term for 12 months.

Benefits

Support for professional development

Flexible working arrangements

Inclusive work environment

Qualifications

• Established expertise in labour or health economics.
• Proven ability to publish in international journals.
• Skills in the quantitative analysis of microdata.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on job quality and health.
• Develop research objectives and funding proposals.
• Attend and present at conferences and seminars.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Postgraduate degree at PhD level in economics

Tools

Statistical software

Job description

Overview

Advert: Research Associate
Project NIHR - Creating Healthy Jobs
Cardiff Business School

This is an exciting opportunity for a committed quantitative researcher to join a research team working on a new externally funded project NIHR - Creating Healthy Jobs. The role is based at Cardiff University under the leadership of Professor Melanie Jones as part of an interdisciplinary project led by the Institute of Employment Research at Warwick University. The role will involve the analysis of microdata to explore the relationship between job quality and health in the UK, leading to high quality academic publications and dissemination to inform policy and employer practice. It would ideally suit someone with expertise in health and/or labour economics. For queries on the role, please contact Professor Melanie Jones: [e-mail].

This full time role (35 hours per week) is advertised on a fixed-term basis from 1 September 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter) for a period of 12 months.

Salary: £41,064 - £46,049 per annum (Grade 6)

Date advert posted: Monday, 6 October 2025
Closing Date: Monday, 3 November 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Job Description

Main function

To conduct research on the relationship between job quality and health as part of a NIHR Funded Creating Healthy Jobs Project. Contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To conduct quantitative research on the relationship between job quality and health and contribute to the overall research performance of the project, School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding and publishing in national academic journals and conferences.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
• To attend and/or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• To prepare research ethics, research governance and data-related access applications as appropriate.
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
• To participate in project and School research activities.
• To disseminate research findings and build networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.

Other

• To engage effectively with project partners and wider industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions and other academic institutions, regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School's profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the project and School, and the enhancement of its national and international profile.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in project and School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Additional Information

Cardiff Business School

Cardiff Business School is a leading business and management school in the UK, holding AACSB and AMBA accreditations and ranked 1st for its Research Environment and 2nd on Research Power (REF2021). The School has a Public Value purpose and focuses on the co-creation of high quality, interdisciplinary education and knowledge that delivers economic, social and environmental value. The School's activities are oriented towards five Grand Challenges: Decent work, fair and sustainable economies, future organisations, good governance, and responsible innovation.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level in economics or a closely related subject area

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

1. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research within either of the following research fields:
   • Labour economics
   • Health economics
2. Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field
3. Proven ability to publish in international journals
4. Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies

Communication and Team Working

1. Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication
2. Ability to work well as part of a research team

Other

1. Proven ability to work without close supervision
2. Skills and expertise in the quantitative analysis of microdata

Desirable Criteria

1. Evidence of collaborations with non-academic organisations.
2. Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.
3. Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the project and School.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES

It is the University's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criterion as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (xxxxxBR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.