Research Fellow - School of Inflammation and Ageing - 106304 - Grade 7

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in Birmingham seeks a talented researcher for a full-time position within the Health Protection Research Unit. The successful candidate will work with partners to address public health challenges, engage in innovative research, and contribute to community-focused actions. Applicants should hold a relevant first degree and preferably a higher degree, with a commitment to equitable research practices. Competitive salary and progression included.

Qualifications

• First degree in relevant area and usually a higher degree related to research.
• High level analytical capability.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Understanding of broader management/administration processes.
• Experience in interdisciplinary research settings.
• Commitment to equitable research practices.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with UKHSA and NHS partners.
• Support delivery of HPRU work packages.
• Contribute to public involvement and engagement activities.
• Support real-time data collection in public health incidents.
• Engage with data dashboard development.
• Supervise and mentor junior researchers.

Job description

Position Details

School of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade:7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to March 2030

Closing date: 5 October 2025

2 Positions available for this role

Background

The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research. We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge. This role will create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within the NIHR-funded Health Protection Research Unit for Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR-HPRU).

Role Summary

We are looking for a talented and highly motivated researcher to join this newly formed HPRU. The Unit is a partnership between the University of Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, the MoD’s Defence Public Health Unit, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This role aligns with the UK Health Security Agency’s strategic goals and NIHR's EDI and community partnership frameworks.

The HPRU’s vision is to establish a Unit that excels in emergency preparedness and response, aiming to safeguard our communities' health and well-being by anticipating, preparing for, and effectively responding to a wide range of potential emergencies, while monitoring and addressing impacts on health equality. It is committed to building a resilient system adaptable to emergencies of all types and scales—from natural disasters to mass casualty events and pandemics. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, robust infrastructure, and interdisciplinary collaborations, it strives for a swift, coordinated, and effective response to health emergencies. With patient and community engagement at its core, the HPRU’s goal is to minimise the impact of such events on public health and reduce health inequalities. It envisions a future where every emergency is met with resilience, every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth, and every community member feels safe and protected.

The successful applicant will not only become part of the University of Birmingham team but will also collaborate closely with colleagues in the UKHSA, and will be afforded development opportunities across both organisations.

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some, but not all the responsibilities outlined below.

• Work collaboratively across institutional boundaries, particularly with colleagues at UKHSA, Defence Public Health Unit, and NHS partners, ensuring alignment with national priorities in emergency preparedness and response.
• Support the delivery of specific HPRU work packages, including cross-cutting themes such as health inequalities, digital innovation, and workforce resilience.
• Contribute to public involvement and engagement (PPIE) activities, including co-development of research with Community Champions and other stakeholders, ensuring alignment with EDI principles and PPIE expectations.
• Embed considerations of health equity and diversity throughout research design, implementation and dissemination, and contribute to the Unit’s Equity Impact Framework and annual Equity Score Card reporting.
• Support real-time data collection, triage research, and evaluation in response to emerging public health incidents or major incidents (where feasible), contributing to agile, scalable research mobilisation.
• Engage with data dashboard development, geospatial tools or modelling frameworks (working with technical leads as appropriate), to enhance policy translation and public accessibility of findings.
• Contribute to the training and mentorship of junior researchers, research associates, and HPRU-affiliated studentships.
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
• Experience working within interdisciplinary, cross-institutional research settings (e.g., involving public health, NHS, or governmental bodies)
• Demonstrable understanding of public or population health challenges in emergencies or high-risk environments
• Commitment to equitable research practices and meaningful community involvement.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and maintain effective communication across academic and applied research settings

Further particulars can be found here. Informal enquiries to Abbie Riley, email: [e-mail]

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.