Research Associate – English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)

at  The University of Manchester

THE PROJECT

Applications are sought for a Research Associate to contribute to the conduct and analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), with particular responsibility for the social science elements of the study, with a focus on ethnic inequalities in later life. The post would be based in the Department of Sociology and The Cathie Marsh Institute, University of Manchester, and will involve liaison with researchers in the University and colleagues in University College London, National Centre for Social Research and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The appointment is maternity leave cover and will be for a period of 10.5 months. The post-holder will report to Dr Dharmi Kapadia, but will be supported by discipline-specific mentors
The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) is a multi-disciplinary panel study that contains detailed information on the health, economic and social circumstances of a representative sample in England aged 50 and over; meaning it covers those from late middle-age to the oldest old, transitions throughout later life, and a range of generations. It involves collaborations with a number of institutes, including UCL, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the National Centre for Social Research. ELSA is funded by the US National Institute on Aging and several UK Government Departments. ELSA is the only study of its kind in the UK, although there are number of sister studies in other countries, notably the US, the Republic of Ireland and mainland Europe. Respondents are interviewed every two years, and undergo a nurse assessment every four years, covering the collection of biomedical information and storage of blood and saliva samples for later analysis. It has just completed the eleventh wave of data collection with funding for Waves 12 and 13 secured.
The multidisciplinary focus of data collection in ELSA gives coverage of: physical health, including cardiovascular diseases and chronic conditions (diagnosed and symptoms), pain, age related symptoms, and subjective health reports; physical and cognitive functioning (both self-report and direct measures of performance); mental health; a range of wellbeing measures; biomarkers (anthropometry, lung function, blood pressure, peripheral blood samples and saliva samples); DNA; economics (detailed coverage of income, financial assets, pensions and housing); social networks and social, civic and cultural participation. More details can be found at: https://www.elsa-project.ac.uk/

JOB DESCRIPTION

The research associate appointed will be expected to contribute to the development of the study, liaise with project partners, help run the programme of work, conduct analysis of data, write up findings for publication, and engage in a wider range of dissemination activities.

Please refer the Job description for details