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Position Details

Department of Applied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149. As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £36,130.

Part Time (18.75 hours per week)

Fixed Term contract up to March 2027

Closing date: 17th June 2025

'Open House' Drop In Session:We will be holding an ‘open house’ drop in session at the University’s Exchange building, in Centenary Square, Birmingham, between 10am and 5pm on Friday 6th June 2025. If you’re interested in working at the University of Birmingham and perhaps have a few questions, this is an opportunity to meet colleagues in the Recruitment team. It will be a relaxed and informal event – you can drop in at any time.

Please note: We are advertising for both a Research Associate (105810) and a Research Fellow (105801), however there is only 1 post available.

Background

We are seeking an experienced and autonomous researcher to join the PURSUIT study, a research project funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit programme, with the aim of developing and refining a multi-component behaviour change intervention for reducing delay and increasing identification of work-related asthma in primary care.

Work-related asthma affects 1 in 4 people of working-age with asthma in the UK, and these patients have more time off work and are generally more disabled than those with asthma unrelated to work. Occupational asthma (that caused by work) costs the UK £1 billion every ten years, and almost all of this is through NHS healthcare costs and state benefits. Earlier detection can reduce this burden through better treatment and halting or reversal of the disease process.

With support, you will lead qualitative behavioural research within two specified work packages in the programme, comprising (1) interviews with patients with and primary healthcare professionals to understand barriers and enablers of identification of work-related asthma, and (2) refinement of new behaviour change techniques using thematic analysis of focus groups with patients and healthcare professionals. You will also work closely with the rest of the research team, and contribute to mapping of barriers and enablers using COM-B categories and the behaviour change wheel model, and identification and selction of behaviour change techniques.

You will be based in the Department of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Birmingham, working alongside internationally recognised behavioural and chronic disease epidemiology research teams. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with partners within respiratory medicine services at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and NIHR’s West Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network in primary care research.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a high-impact research project with real-world implications for occupational health and respiratory medicine, using well established behavioural science methods, and work within UK leading academic and clinical teams.

Role Summary

• Work within the NIHR-funded PURSUIT study and with its team of co-applicants
• Operate within area of specialism (qualitative research, behavioural science)
• Analyse and interpret data and research findings and results
• Contribute to generating patient information, academic publications, and policy reports
• Contribute to public understanding of behavioural science, occupational respiratory health, and inequalities

Main Duties

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

• Contribute to behaviour change and/or qualitative research methodologies
• Contribute to designing protocols, data collection tools like topic guides, and ethics applications
• Identify, recruit and consent research participants
• Collect qualitative data in a sensitive manner following established protocols
• Conduct literature searching and reviewing
• Lead public involvement activities with a diverse range of contributors
• Analyse qualitative data using established and rigorous analytic methods
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding and that ensures pathways are accessible and inclusive
• Disseminate research findings for publication such as in policy briefs, academic papers, and at research seminars, conferences
• Undertake management and administration activities arising from the research project
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to Departmental/School teaching-related activities and teaching -related administration
• Where appropriate, 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
• 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 andnormally, a higher degree (or close to completion) relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: qualitative research, behaviour change, and/or respiratory medicine
• Familiarity with behaviour change frameworks, such as the Behaviour Change Wheel
• Capable of working sensitively with under-served populations
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Excellent ability to work as a team and independently including co-ordinating own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• 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
• 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

Informal enquiries to Gareth Walters, email: g.i.walters@bham.ac.uk

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 .