Research Associate in Health at University of Leicester

The School of Healthcare offers an exciting opportunity to join a newly established programme of research to develop and validate the Patient Experience of Deprescribing Questionnaire (PED-Q). The PED-Q is a novel tool to capture the experience of older adults and consultees having a medicine proactively deprescribed both in the clinical trial and practice contexts. The planned empirical research involves establishing the PED-Q’s content validity using discriminant content validity (DVC) with researchers and healthcare professionals and face validity using cognitive interviews with older adults and consultees. Prior knowledge and experience of these methodological approaches is desirable but not essential as training will be provided.

This is a truly international programme of research! It is funded by the United States Deprescribing Network via the National Institute on Aging, led by Dr Sion Scott at the University of Leicester with co-investigators at the Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium), University of British Columbia (Canada) and University of Southern Denmark (Denmark).

You will be supported to co-ordinate the PED-Q programme of research including securing research ethics and governance approvals, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and dissemination of evidence generated. You will work closely with the PED-Q Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) co-investigator to convene a PPI advisor group and support their active involvement in the day-to-day running of the research. You will also have strong opportunity for career and skills development including significant investment in training and learning opportunities.

The School of Healthcare research team operate a hybrid working model and the post holder will be supported to work either fully in the office, fully remote or a hybrid of the two depending on their preference.

About you

You will hold a PhD or equivalent in appropriate discipline (or the equivalent professional qualification and experience) as well as have experience working as a senior member of a health services research programme. We are looking for an individual who has evidence of proven analytical problem-solving capability and evidence of contribution to peer-reviewed journal papers.

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Dr Sion Scott at s.scott@leicester.ac.uk.

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 equality, 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.