Research Associate

at  Lancaster University

FULL TIME

The Division of Health Research (DHR) within Lancaster University’s Faculty of Health and Medicine is seeking to fill a Research Associate position to work on the Show Me How And Where You Belong: People With Learning Disabilities, Belonging And Difference project. This project comes out of a set of linked projects within the NIHR School’s for Public Health Research Health Inequalities Programme.
The project has been designed as a partnership of people with and without learning disabilities to better understand the link between belonging and health for diverse groups of people with learning disabilities. In this role, you will join a team of academic and community researchers with learning disabilities to work on co-produced research about experiences of belonging for women with learning disabilities, LGBTQ+ people with learning disabilities and people with learning disabilities from Black and ethnically minoritized communities.
You will play a key role in conducting the research and disseminating its findings. You will work closely with the academic researchers and the community partners involved in this research to recruit participants and collect data. The project will involve different methods, including face to face focus groups and creative methods such as photovoice. You will be required to work as part of a team and be able to work independently and flexibly.
You will have an MSc or PhD in Health Research or a relevant social sciences discipline with experience of qualitative research methods and qualitative data analysis. Knowledge and experience of collecting, managing and analysing qualitative data is essential. Knowledge and experience of doing research with marginalised communities and groups is essential. Willingness to travel for fieldwork is also essential. Strong computer literacy skills are also essential (i.e. Microsoft packages Word, Excel, Teams). It would also be advantageous to have knowledge and/or experience within the project’s relevant topic areas such as learning disabilities research, intersectional experiences of belonging, social determinants of health. Experience and knowledge of participatory research methods and a strong commitment to socially just research practice are also highly desirable.
This is a collaborative research project between four universities. The project is co-led by Dr Magdalena Mikulak at Lancaster University and Prof David Abbott at University of Bristol, alongside co-investigators from University of Northumbria, University of Essex and Manchester Metropolitan University. The work will involve frequent travel for data collection.
The Faculty provides an environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee, promoting a healthy work-life balance. We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis, as well as the Athena SWAN Charter, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education.
The position is available from November and we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements, including working week and days/hours worked, flexible start and finish times or condensed hours. The post will be based in the Division of Health Research at Lancaster University (Health Innovation One) with option of hybrid and remote working possible.
You will join us on an indefinite contract, however, the role remains contingent on external funding which currently is due to end on 28th February 2026.
Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact the project PI Dr Magdalena Mikulak (m.mikulak@lancaster.ac.uk ) for further information about the position.

Please refer the Job description for details