About the role

Are you passionate about improving children’s health and development? Do you want to build an international research profile in developmental psychology and applied health research?

The €7.8 million IMPROVE Preterm project, funded by Horizon Europe, aims to improve the lifelong health and development of children born very preterm by identifying effective healthcare interventions. The IMPROVE Preterm research team at the University of Leicester is seeking a Research Associate to join them in delivering this ambitious project.

The post is based within the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Leicester. Collaborating with academic partners across 13 countries, this position is ideal for someone eager to develop their research profile, skills, and experience within an international research project, while engaging with schools and children in the East Midlands.

The part of the project at the University of Leicester aims to create, validate, and standardise a novel parent-completed questionnaire to assess children’s cognitive ability at 5-7 years of age for use in clinical trials and observational studies. The postholder will be responsible for managing the day-to-day aspects of the project, collecting study data both online and in person, coordinating with data collectors at other European sites, and conducting assessments of children’s cognitive development in the UK. The role also involves managing large data sets, conducting data analysis, and writing up findings.

This 4-year project offers significant opportunities for professional and personal growth, including travel and networking with researchers across Europe, presenting findings at national and international meetings, and contributing to the publication of impactful research. You will be part of, and supported by, a team whose world leading research was recognised for its excellence in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment, giving you the chance to shape your identity as a future international researcher and leader with high-quality research outputs and outcomes.

About you

As the successful applicant, you will hold a PhD (or equivalent) in psychology, epidemiology, medicine, health sciences or a related field. You’ll be enthusiastic about traveling across Europe for project meetings and visiting primary schools in the East Midlands to assess children's cognitive abilities. You’ll have excellent communication skills when interacting with both children and adults and the ability to collaborate effectively within a team while managing tasks independently to meet key project milestones. You will see your involvement in this project as an opportunity to build and showcase your research leadership potential while also realising your ambition to contribute to impactful research in an international setting.

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Prof Samantha Johnson on [email protected]

The University of Leicester prides itself on the diversity of its student population and on being an inclusive employer. We encourage applications from candidates who represent the diversity of our student population, local communities and wider society. In particular, we welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, as this is a staff group currently underrepresented in the University.

As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying. More information regarding secondments can be found here

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

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Research Associate

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