Jobs, fresher vacancy - Research Fellow in Psychology • UK

Company: University of Northumbria

UK

Description ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow to join our 23-month project evaluating the 'Making Every Contact Count' (MECC) programme in Bolton. This programme aims to improve health and wellbeing outcomes through brief, opportunistic conversations on healthy lifestyle choices, delivered by Local Authority, health, and social care staff. The project is guided by the RE-AIM framework to assess the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of MECC across diverse community settings. This project is funded by the School for Public Health Research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The Research Fellow will play a crucial role in the evaluation of the MECC programme, focusing on its implementation, reach, effectiveness, and fidelity. This role will involve a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative and qualitative data collection, fidelity assessment, and economic modelling. The Research Fellow will work closely with project partners (i.e. Bolton City Council Public Health Team and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust), health and social care professionals, and community stakeholders to generate actionable insights that inform future practice. This role is fixed-term, full time, for 23 months and will start in June 2025. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 therefore the successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. ABOUT THE TEAM The applicant will be guided and supported by Dr Angela Rodrigues (Associate Professor, Northumbria University) in a team consisting of Bolton City Council Public Health Team and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust partners, academic colleagues from Sheffield University, University of Oxford, University of Greater Manchester and Lancaster University. This also includes patient and public involvement. You will be embedded in the MECC research group at Northumbria University. The group brings together interdisciplinary experts from both academia and practice in the fields of Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, Business, and Health and Social Care across Northern England with the shared aim of advancing the evidence base for MECC. The group, led by Dr Angela Rodrigues, has strong links with Fuse and the ARC NENC and works with fellow academics at the other North East Universities along with relevant stakeholders from the NHS and Local Authorities including the regional MECC strategy group. You will be formally based in the Department of Psychology, within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Northumbria University, City Campus. ABOUT YOU To be successful in the role you will have: Excellent qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills, and experience in mixed-methods research, including survey design, qualitative interviewing, and data triangulation. Strong understanding of intervention development and evaluation frameworks, particularly RE-AIM, and behavioural science tools (e.g. Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs); Theoretical Domains Framework), and knowledge of the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) approach, including its principles, implementation strategies, and evaluation within health and social care settings is desirable. Ability to travel for purpose of data collection to various locations in the UK is essential. You will hold a PhD, have submitted your PhD or be about to submit your PhD in the next two months, or have equivalent experience, in in Public Health, Behavioural Science, Health Psychology, or a related field. Further information is available in the person specification. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Dr Angela Rodrigues (angela.rodrigues@northumbria.ac.uk). To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'. Your application should include a covering letter and a CV. ABOUT US Join Northumbria University, a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power. Discover more about us. With over 37,000 students from 140+ countries, we offer world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work-life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more. Our Northumbria Values, co-created by our team, define who we are: Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition. Our Behaviours shape our work culture: We listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold. Located in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on-campus organisation with flexibility in hours and location. We pride ourselves on diversity and inclusivity, holding numerous awards for gender and race equality, disability confidence, and research excellence. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.  Apply now and join a community committed to transforming society and the economy. Explore "Our Exceptional People, Our Values and Behaviours" page to learn more about our commitments and see our for further details.