Job Description

Job Title:

Research Associate ALIGN

Posting Start Date:

20/11/2025

Job Id:

1915

School/Department:

School of Medicine & Population Health

Work Arrangement:

Part Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Salary per annum ():

38,784.00

Closing Date:

04/12/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.



We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

Join the world-leading and multidisciplinary Better Outcomes for MND team based at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), focused on improving care for people with motor neuron disease (MND). We are an award-winning international research and clinical care centre developing evidenced-based interventions to improve the care and quality of life of people with MND and their families.



The focus of this role will be delivering focused-ethnography in three NHS sites, exploring advance care planning and discussions about future care for people with MND and their families. This will include data collection, data analysis, and leading the development of outputs and dissemination strategies.



We are a growing, diverse team of researchers with a strong focus on equality and diversity across research participation and staff career development. Team members have been successfully supported to apply for their own research funding and undertake training opportunities with the group.

Main duties and responsibilities

Undertake research in line with project requirements. This will include recruitment, conducting face-to-face and remote ethnographic observations, interviews and medical note review at three NHS sites in North England. Manage data collection, analysis and storage on a day-to-day basis together with other researchers. Manage the day-to-day work of the PPIE group and lead on dissemination and public engagement. Work independently and as part of the ALIGN and wider Better Outcomes in MND team to deliver the research objectives in line with the project aims. Liaise closely with other academics, advisers, R&D departments and administrators relevant to the study. Take a lead role in the analysis, interpretation and writing up of data. Support project reporting requirements, including research project progress reports and finance management, reporting and grant proposals. Attend and contribute to project meetings and research advisory group meetings. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

A PhD in a relevant health science, such as psychology or medicine, and methodological discipline (applicants near completion of their PhD are welcome to apply) or equivalent experience


Essential


Application/interview


Ability to conduct ethnography within healthcare settings and analyse data with little/no supervision


Essential


Application/Interview


Experience in conducting qualitative health services research with people with long-term health conditions


Essential


Application/Interview


Experience in delivering high-quality research


Essential


Application/Interview


Excellent interpersonal and communication skills necessary to develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues within the University and externally, with researchers, clinicians and members of the public involved in the studies


Essential


Application/Interview


Ability to travel to three NHS sites in the North of England to conduct face-to-face data collection


Essential


Application/Interview


Experience conducting a range of qualitative methods, including interviews and focused ethnography (i.e. observations, in-situ interviews and document reviews)


Essential


Application/Interview


Experience conducting PPIE and/or public engagement


Essential


Application/Interview


Experience conducting research with people with a long-term neurological disease and/or their carers and/or long-term respiratory disease


Desirable


Application/Interview

Further Information

Grade

7

Salary

38,784 - 41,064 (0.8FTE)

Work arrangement

Part-time, 0.8FTE (28 hours per week)

Duration

16 months

Line manager

Senior Research Fellow

Direct reports

Our website

www.sheffield.ac.uk/sitran

For informal enquiries about this job contact Alys Griffiths, Senior Research Fellow: on

alys.griffiths

@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 9th December 2025. This will consist of an interview, including a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage the week commencing 1st December 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process, you can contact Dr Alys Griffiths.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

A minimum of 41days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways. A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
+ support for those going through the menopause
+ paid time off and support for fertility treatment
+ and more





We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record

enhanced with barred lists

DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).



Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Baseline personnel security standard

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.