THE DEPARTMENT

You will be based at Sheffield Hallam University - Collegiate Campus and will be supervised by Prof. Liane Azevedo. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team of academics from public health, epidemiology, and social science backgrounds.
You will also collaborate with community and government stakeholders and other Research Fellows employed in due course. The project is based at the Physical Activity, Wellness and Public Health Research Group, which is one of the Research Groups from Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre, part of the Sheffield Hallam University Health Research Institute.
The School of Sport and Physical Activity has a long and rich tradition of delivering innovative programmes and research in sport and physical activity for over 40 years. Ranked 4th in the UK for the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) (2021) and with thousands of alumni working across the globe, the School is considered one of the leading HE providers within sport and physical activity. Courses are taught by leading experts who deliver cutting edge, research-informed teaching, with staff holding prominent positions within the sport industry. With a global reputation for offering applied programmes and value-added opportunities, our students graduate ready for the diverse sport sector.
We offer a diverse range of benefits and opportunities to pursue a rewarding and fulfilling career in a supportive environment.
You will be contractually enrolled into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) – one of the largest and most generous defined benefit pension schemes in the country.
Find out more about the TPS
If you’re a member of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) directly before joining us, you can choose to remain in USS instead. Please contact the Pensions team to discuss options available.
If you are offered this post you will be subject to an enhanced with barred lists check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. A criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from working at Sheffield Hallam University but its relevance to the duties of the post will need to be assessed before the appointment is confirmed.

An exciting opportunity to join a research team working on an NIHR-funded project entitled: ‘The impact of interactive electronic devices: understanding the mechanisms of benefits and harms on young children’s development, behaviour and health outcomes using a multimethod approach’ (NIHR 159040). You can read more about the study on the funder’s webpage, the iKids study website.
You will be an ambitious postdoctoral researcher with a strong background in both qualitative and quantitative research, and ideally experience working with children. In this role, you will primarily focus on Work Package 3 (WP 3), an ethnographic study.
This study will use videography to document young children’s interactions with electronic devices, such as tablets and smartphones, as well as their interactions with family members. You will also conduct interviews with parents and caregivers and assist in data analysis using inductive thematic analysis. Additionally, you will support other researchers in the implementation of Work Package 2 (WP 2), a quantitative longitudinal study aimed at understanding the impact of interactive electronic devices on young children’s development and health.
Throughout the project, you will be given opportunities for external training, in addition to publishing in leading refereed journals, creating policy briefs, and presenting the research findings at national and international conferences.
Some travel will be required for data collection.