Research Associate/Assistant

This is an exciting opportunity for a researcher with an interest in evaluation of school-based trials and/or gender-based violence interventions. You will contribute to an ongoing, high-profile national evaluation of Equally Safe at School, a whole school approach designed to address gender-based violence in Scottish secondary schools. You will undertake qualitative analysis to evaluate the process of implementing Equally Safe at School, focusing on understanding factors shaping implementation and embedding of the intervention within schools, and mechanisms through which the intervention interacts with school contexts to generate outcomes. Much of this data has already been collected, but the postholder will also conduct some further primary data collection (e.g., interviews with policy actors) to understand the wider context. Reporting to the ESAS Process Evaluation Lead and working closely with the ESAS Research Co-ordinator, you will meet regularly with teachers leading ESAS in their school and will lead on – and contribute to – outputs such as academic papers, policy briefings and presentations.

The ideal candidate will be a qualitative researcher with exceptional analytical and writing skills, capable of producing high-quality outputs to tight deadlines. Ideally, they will have experience working on evaluation of complex and/or school-based interventions and bring a genuine interest in gender-based violence research. They will have a good sense of how qualitative and quantitative evidence can be synthesised to produce robust evaluation findings. A collaborative team player, they will contribute actively to a supportive and dynamic team.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist and contribute to study objectives under supervision of the Equally Safe Principal Investigator and other co-investigators and in accordance with project deliverables.
• Assist in the maintenance of key project management and monitoring documents, including project protocol, data management plans, ethics amendments (where relevant), and logs tracking progress in data generation and analysis.
• Generate qualitative data where relevant (via a limited number of individual, group interviews and structured observations), and undertake qualitative analysis of data that have already been collected. Contribute to the design of coding frames and analyse transcripts and fieldnotes in conjunction with other research team members. Contribute to identifying and developing analytical themes and generating insights in line with research questions.
• Contribute to writing high-quality scientific papers based on the above analyses (as lead and co-author).
• Contribute to the presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile. In addition, contribute to designing engaging outputs (e.g. blog posts, presentations) to share learning with relevant audiences.
• Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of the University of Glasgow, including contributing to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals.
• Contribute to the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.
• Collaborate with colleagues and participate in meetings/seminars/workshops across Public Health Unit/School of Health and Wellbeing/MVLS college/University of Glasgow and wider community.
• Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.
• Carry out modest teaching activities and associated admin as assigned by the Head of School and in consultation with the ESAS Principal Investigator.
• Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in evaluation of complex interventions, process evaluation, gender-based violence, whole school approaches, adolescent health and wellbeing and other issues relevant to the evaluation of ESAS.
• Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.
• Undertake any other duties of equivalent standing as assigned by the ESAS principal investigator/Head of Public Health Unit/Head of School of Health and Wellbeing.
• Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan.

For Appointment at Grade 7

• Perform the above duties with a higher degree of independence, leadership and responsibility, particularly in relation to planning, funding, collaborating and publishing research, and mentoring colleagues.
• Establish and sustain a track record of independent and joint published research to establish and maintain your expert reputation in the subject area.
• Develop expertise in the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project conducting interviews and workshops.

Essential Skills

• Strong skills relevant to analysing qualitative data (e.g. developing coding frames; writing analytic memos; synthesis of diverse perspectives).
• Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly, concisely and in an engaging manner.
• Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working.
• Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills.
• Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate.
• Initiative and judgement to resolve problems independently, including demonstrating a flexible and pragmatic approach.
• Willingness to travel across Scotland for data collection, if required.

Desirable Skills

• Knowledge and skills related to school-based research and/or the education sector in Scotland.
• Knowledge of mixed-methods approaches in evaluation, including integration and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

Experience

• Experience working with young people.
• Sufficient research experience in qualitative health research appropriate to an early career researcher.
• Experience of research communication (oral or written) with different audiences (e.g. young people, policymakers, practitioners, general public).
• Experience of social scientific writing.
• Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner.

For appointment at grade 7

• A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality journals/conferences.
• Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities.
• Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, data generation and analysis, and drafting of papers.
• Experience in undertaking independent research.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in carrying out schools-based research, including liaison with school teachers and leadership teams.

Terms and Conditions

• Salary: Grade 6/7, £33,951 - £37,694 / £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.
• Full-time (35 hours per week) and has funding available until 30 September 2027.
• We are open to considering applicants interested in a job share role (0.5 FTE each).
• Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University.

Benefits

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

Closing Date: 15 June 2026 at 23:45.