Researcher in Clinical Exercise Science (Long COVID)

Team Derby; Derby; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading university as a researcher in Long COVID, contributing to groundbreaking studies and innovative solutions for chronic conditions. This role offers the opportunity to work within a vibrant research team, focusing on impactful research dissemination and collaboration with various stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess a PhD in a related field and have a strong background in research methodologies.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days

Access to holistic wellbeing benefits

Discounted onsite gym

Cycle to Work scheme

Flexible working environment

Qualifications

• Completed or close to completing a PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Experience in academic dissemination via peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience in research project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to ongoing research projects in Long COVID.
• Analyze research findings and determine further investigation needs.
• Prepare proposals for funding applications.

Skills

Research methodologies

Communication

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Education

PhD in clinical exercise science, human physiology or clinical sciences

Job description

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

We deliver world-class biomedical and clinical research that promotes and supports healthier living, ageing and wellbeing, while providing solutions to chronic conditions and global health challenges such as cancer, long Covid and pneumonia. As well as exploring performance, rehabilitation and recovery for patients. Through this we are growing our reputation of unlocking human potential.

Within our research clusters, we have an interdisciplinary team working across research fields to accelerate our innovative approach, which translates to real-world impact. We use our expertise to bring people and communities together and excite a lifelong passion for sport, exercise and health.

Our staff are actively involved in high quality research, undertaking influential studies that are breaking new ground in their disciplines. Our Physical Activity researchers have worked with national organisations including on the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines, NICE Guidelines Moving Medicine and BASES. They have also linked with industry partners like Move More Derby, Active Derbyshire and Digibete.

On the Sports Performance side, the team have worked with governing bodies of elite sport including WADA, British Cycling, British Wheelchair Rugby, British Canoeing, the English, Welsh and Danish Football Associations, and My Energy Game. Our teams also work with several Professional Sports Teams such as Burton Albion FC, Leicester City FC, GB Cycling and Derbyshire County Cricket.

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated research to join an international award winning research team in Long COVID to a fixed-term post, for 36 months. As a team, we responded to the COVID-19 pandemic quickly to establish a programme of research that seeks to understand the mechanisms of Long COVID and progress the knowledge base towards the trialling of curative treatments. Our research is strongly underpinned by patient and public engagement which enriches all aspects of our research from design, delivery and even publication. The successful candidate will join a vibrant research team that has established a reputation for research excellence and contribute to the delivery of planned/ongoing projects and the conceptualisation and development of new ideas in Long COVID pathophysiology and/or the lived experience. The role will also include dissemination of research findings in reputable peer-reviewed academic journals and at research conferences. This is a research-only role but could include where appropriate supervision of undergraduate or postgraduate students.

The successful candidate will have completed (or close to completing) a PhD in the area of clinical exercise science, human physiology or clinical sciences (or something similar) and have a track record of research project delivery from in the above areas. Experience in academic dissemination via peer reviewed journals and academic conferences is also important to this role. If you have experience in writing and supporting external grant applications this is desirable but not essential, as training can be provided.

• Under the direction of the research lead, contribute to the delivery of planned/ongoing research projects as well as the development of new research projects in Long COVID.
• Analyse research findings and determine the need for further investigation.
• Contribute to the writing up of research findings and dissemination through publications or seminar and conference presentations.
• Assist with the preparation of proposals and applications to both external and/or internal bodies for funding, contractual or accreditation purposes.
• Where appropriate and in discussion with the research lead, support the supervision of undergraduate projects and postgraduate research students and provide training as appropriate.
• Plan and manage own research activity and initiate research relevant to the discipline or research project(s).
• Where opportunities exist within the research project(s), support the development and delivery of business engagement activities, developing entrepreneurial links with external organisations.
• Undertake appropriate training and staff development.
• Provide guidance as required to other colleagues working on related research projects.
• Develop, maintain and enhance internal and external contacts with other academic staff to form collaborative relationships.
• Understand own development needs and formulate a personal development plan.
• Observe and implement University policies and procedures.
• PhD or equivalent (within six months of submission, pending or awarded) in a relevant discipline.

Experience

• An appropriate level of digital capability with practical experience in applications.
• Evidence of sufficient breadth or depth of research methodologies and techniques to work in the research area.
• Evidence of engagement in high-quality research activity.

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Developing research skills, with the ability to creatively apply relevant research approaches, models, techniques and methods.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly both in writing and presentations.
• Analytical ability to facilitate conceptual thinking, innovation and creativity.
• Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with colleagues, internally and externally.
• Ability to use initiative and creativity to solve problems in a research context.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and as part of a team.

Business requirements

• Demonstrate competences, core behaviours and supplementary behaviours that support and promote the University’s core values.
• Flexible to the needs of others.
• Committed to ensuring a high-quality student experience.
• Committed to a high-performance culture, fostering continuous improvement and driving quality.
• Able to take a flexible approach to work:
  • Travel between sites and occasionally overseas for work
  • Some evening and occasional weekend work
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Mark Faghy, Professor of Clinical Exercise Science via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail] .

This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University.

The offered salary for this role is less than the going rate for the occupation and the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£38,700 per annum). Therefore you will only be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa subject to your individual circumstances which must meet one of the following criteria set out by UKVI :

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.

If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns.This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates.Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

For more information on equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby, please visit our website .

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Be part of something extraordinary, apply now.

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [e-mail] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.