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- Tasks: Join a dynamic team researching thriving in sport and promoting athlete wellbeing.
- Company: University of Bath, renowned for its commitment to diversity and excellence.
- Benefits: Generous salary, professional development, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on elite sports while advancing your research career.
- Qualifications: PhD submitted or awarded, with expertise in research methodologies and communication.
- Other info: Enjoy a vibrant workplace culture with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 38784 - 46049 ÂŁ per year.
About the role
This three-year Research Associate (Post Doc) position will encompass predominantly working on a series of research projects, in a collaboration between the Stress, Anxiety, Resilience, and Thriving (StART) research group (Department for Health, University of Bath) and external sports organizations (e.g., UK Sports Institute).
The research projects will be on the topic of thriving in sport and will include an examination of how sporting organizations can create optimal environments that promote positive mental health and enable athletes to “win well”, that is, experience thriving (the joint experience of success and development).
Specifically, the research will unpick how performance and wellbeing (as proxies of success and development) can co-exist within the elite sport system and any tensions that might exist with their joint experience. Subsequently, it will involve tracking athletes’ thriving over time, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of an intervention to enable and support thriving in elite sport.
In addition to the aforementioned research projects, the Research Associate will support the Principal Investigator (Professor Rachel Arnold) with additional responsibilities. Examples include supervision of doctoral students, research assistance on existing grants, preparing grant bids, writing-up completed research and impact projects, and supporting the smooth running of the StART research group. As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.
Our ideal candidate
The Research Associate will need to have expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and science communications to disseminate the findings into elite sport policy and practice.
Thus, they should have experience of being able to create and maintain good relationships with external partners.
Additionally, the Research Associate will require excellent time and project management skills, high levels of initiative, and strong verbal and written communication skills.
Additional information
*If you have not yet been awarded your PhD/Prof Doc, you will need to have at least submitted your thesis in order to be offered this Grade 7 role (if successful).
This offer would be subject to you passing your viva with or without minor corrections and your PhD/Prof Doc being awarded within your six-month probation period.
Please note that an offer may be withdrawn, or probation failed, if a PhD/Prof Doc viva is not passed or passed with major corrections.
A lower grade offer may be made with comparable reduction in responsibilities (and amendment in job title to Research Assistant) if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position.
Grade 6 applicants will need to be within six months of submitting their PhD/Prof Doc thesis and will be promoted to Research Associate once their doctorate has been awarded.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Professor Rachel Arnold, Dr Lee Moore, or Dr Daniel Brown.
We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.
We’re very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, an accredited Disability Confident Leader, autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.
What we can offer you
We’re continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:
- Free counselling services through Health Assured
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
- Staff discount at Team Bath gym
- Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
- Staff discount on language courses
- Generous employer contributory pension schemes
- Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
- A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
- Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
- Local discounts and more
- A family-friendly workplace
- An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
- Relocation allowance
- Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses
Closing Date: 10 Feb 2026
Department: Education Research
Salary: ÂŁ38,784 to ÂŁ46,049
Research Associate (ED13335) - Bath, BA2 7AY employer: University of Bath
Contact Detail:
University of Bath Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Associate (ED13335) - Bath, BA2 7AY
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to the StART research group or elite sports organisations. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the research projects mentioned in the job description. Show us you know your stuff and how your skills can help athletes thrive in sport!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your communication skills! Whether it’s through a presentation or a casual conversation, let us see how you can convey complex ideas simply and effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Research Associate (ED13335) - Bath, BA2 7AY
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Research Associate role. Highlight your experience with quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as well as any relevant projects that showcase your ability to thrive in a collaborative environment.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong verbal and written communication skills are key for this position, don’t shy away from demonstrating these in your application. Use clear, concise language and make sure to proofread for any errors before hitting send!
Highlight Your Project Management Experience: We want to see your time and project management skills in action! Include examples of how you've successfully managed projects or collaborated with external partners in your previous roles to show you can handle the responsibilities of this position.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply through our official website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super straightforward!
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Bath
✨Know Your Research Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of the research projects you'll be involved in. Familiarise yourself with the StART group's work and how it relates to thriving in sport. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you answer questions more confidently.
✨Showcase Your Methodological Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Think of specific examples where you've successfully applied these methods in past research. This will demonstrate your capability to contribute effectively to the projects.
✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively
Since strong verbal and written communication skills are essential, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. You might even want to prepare a brief presentation on a relevant topic to showcase your ability to communicate complex ideas simply.
✨Build Rapport with External Partners
Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to create and maintain relationships with external partners. Share examples from your past experiences where you’ve successfully collaborated with others, especially in a research context. This will highlight your interpersonal skills and readiness for the role.
