Research Associate in Population Mental Health and Health Inequalities (Qua

at  Kings College London

Job id: 105287. Salary: £44,105 - £51,485 per annum (including London Weighting Allowance).
Posted: 27 January 2025. Closing date: 10 February 2025.
Business unit: IoPPN. Department: Psychological Medicine.
Contact details: Dr Rebecca Rhead. Rebecca.rhead@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Denmark Hill Campus. Category: Research.
About us:
In April 2024, IoPPN, King’s College London led the establishment of a national disseminated population mental health consortium, as part of a UKRI funded population health improvement initiative (Population Health Improvement UK- PHIUK). This post will be situated in Department of Psychological Medicine, at IoPPN (Denmark Hill campus), London (KCL) and will work across this partnership.
About the role:
We are seeking an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher with a strong background in quantitative methods and mental health research to join Platform 3 (Narrowing Inequalities) within the Population Mental Health Consortium. This role focuses on conducting robust quantitative analysis to assess intersectional inequalities in population mental health, ensuring that interventions and policies are equitable and actively reduce existing disparities.
The successful candidate will apply advanced statistical methods to large-scale, linked datasets to investigate health inequalities utilising intersectional approaches. They will also use mapping tools such as ArcGIS and QGIS to visualise spatial data and patterns in health inequalities, and develop dynamic, interactive reports using Quarto or Markdown to communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.
The researcher will prepare high-quality research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and presentations for academic, policy, and public audiences. They will engage with consortium partners—including NHS England/Improvement, Traumascapes, the Association of Directors of Public Health, and the NHS Race and Health Observatory—to co-produce research that integrates the lived experiences of underserved communities.
In addition, the role will involve conducting ongoing Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) to evaluate interventions, identify missing voices, assess power dynamics, and consider the potential consequences of policies and initiatives. The researcher will also use the Health Inequalities Assessment Toolkit (HIAT) to systematically integrate an intersectional equity lens into research across the consortium. This includes mapping inequalities, ensuring accountability in addressing identified inequities, and incorporating lived experience and policy/practice expertise into all stages of research.
This is a full-time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31st May 2027.
About you:
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria

1. PhD in a Relevant Discipline: Statistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, or a related field.

• Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate, and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

1. Proficiency in statistical analyses and use of relevant statistical packages (Stata, R, MPLUS etc.)
2. Evidence of previous research in mental health, particularly related to health inequalities.
3. Experience working with large-scale, linked datasets (e.g., health records, administrative data).
4. Experience with geographical information systems and spatial data visualisation.
5. Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
6. Strong ability to present complex information clearly to academic, policy, and public audiences.
7. Demonstrated experience working effectively within interdisciplinary teams and with non-academic partners, including public health entities, people with lived experience and volunteer and community sector organisations.
   Desirable criteria
8. Track record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
9. Experience working across policy, public health, voluntary sectors, or with people with lived experience.
10. Familiarity with intersectional analysis methods like multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA) and participatory research methods, such as Photovoice.
11. Experience supervising researchers or students and delivering seminars or training to diverse audiences.
12. Track record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
    Downloading a copy of our Job Description
    Further information
    We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.
    To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.
    Interviews are due to be held week commencing 3rd March 2025.
    We are not able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK

Please refer the Job description for details