Research Associate

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to play a key role in the Wellcome-funded project, "ASCEND-HD: Advancing Support and Care for Emotional Needs and Distress in Huntington's Disease". Working within the School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, you will contribute to improving understanding of mental wellbeing difficulties in Huntington's disease, supporting the development of resources for the Huntington's community and collaborating with academics, healthcare professionals and third-sector organisations. You will undertake qualitative and quantitative research, lead data collection and analysis activities, contribute to patient and public involvement work, and support the dissemination of findings through publications, presentations and wider knowledge exchange activities.

Working closely with the project team under the supervision of the project lead, you will take ownership of key project components, contribute to ethics applications and research outputs, and help ensure the successful delivery of a research programme valued at £2 million. The role offers opportunities to contribute to doctoral student supervision, teaching activities and professional development while engaging with national and international collaborators. As part of our research community, you will be expected to attend regular meetings and be present on campus for the majority of the time, though some working from home is possible.

About you

You will hold, or be close to completing, a PhD or DClinPsy in a relevant psychological or healthcare discipline and you will have significant experience of research involving people affected by neurological conditions. You will have experience of leading substantial qualitative research projects, applying research methods and techniques to produce high-quality outputs, and obtaining informed consent within research studies. Experience of qualitative and quantitative research methods in healthcare or psychological settings and an understanding of Good Clinical Practice will be advantageous.

You will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to conduct sensitive one-to-one interviews involving potentially challenging or distressing topics. Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills are essential, alongside a commitment to delivering high-quality research and engaging effectively with participants, collaborators and wider stakeholders.

Additional information

For informal enquiries, please contact Sarah Gunn on [email protected]

Interviews are anticipated to be held either w/c 5 October or 12 October 2026

As part of the University's ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying. More information regarding secondments can be found here

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people's lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you'll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We're committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

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