Overview
Research Associate (ED12927) – Bath, BA2 7AY
The University of Bath is seeking a suitable postdoctoral researcher to work on an exciting new project developing and user testing very brief digital interventions (‘microinterventions’) for reducing eating disorder risk among adolescents in schools.
The project will explore digital technologies for mental health prevention, adopt person-centred intervention design principles, and work together with young people and school staff to co-design a flexible digital toolkit suitable for schools. The project is funded by the Medical Research Foundation, and supported by the newly developed Disorders of Eating and Body Image research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath.
The project has three main objectives/work packages:
- Establish what secondary school students, teachers, and eating disorder prevention researchers agree are priority intervention targets, strategies, and delivery options.
- Iteratively co-design a package of digital microinterventions and associated guidance with students and teachers so that it is relevant, credible, and engaging.
- Assess whether this digital microintervention package is feasible to deliver in UK schools, and address key uncertainties related to implementation and evaluation.
About the role
The successful applicant will take a lead in managing all three work packages and be involved in the entire research cycle, involving quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research, stakeholder management, and reporting and dissemination activities.
Particular responsibilities will include, but are not restricted to:
- Managing advisory panel of stakeholders (i.e., students, school staff, lived experience expert) and guiding integration of perspectives throughout
- Collaborating with research team to adapt existing evidence-based intervention strategies into brief interactive digital tools
- Developing the digital platform and technological features with support from technical experts
- Preparation of research materials and ethics applications
- Leading participant recruitment and management across studies, including a multistakeholder survey (Delphi) study, co-design workshops and think-aloud interviews with young people and school staff, and a feasibility trial in secondary schools
- Facilitating co-design workshops and think-aloud interviews, and guiding iterative refinement of the intervention package
- Conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses
- Contributing to academic publications and future funding applications
- Presenting research at national and international conferences
- Developing suitable materials for disseminating findings to non-academic audiences
About you
We wish to recruit someone with enthusiasm and interest in young people’s mental health, and eating disorders in particular.
Previous experience of research in these areas is desirable, but not essential, as we are primarily looking for candidates with relevant research skills.
The appointed candidate will ideally have a background in Psychology and/or Human Computer Interaction to guide the design and evaluation of the digital intervention.
We are looking to recruit someone enjoys working as part of a team, values person-centred design principles, and can engage with diverse stakeholders. Ideally, you will have:
- A PhD in Psychology or background relevant to the project (essential)
- Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods (essential)
- Previous experience with developing digital health interventions and/or participatory research methods (desirable)
- Experience of conducting multi-stakeholder projects (desirable)
Additional information
This role is offered on a part-time basis (0.5FTE) for 21 months.
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
A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) 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. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Melissa Atkinson (ma2293@bath.ac.uk).
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
Find out more about our benefits and watch the video to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work as well as following us X and LinkedIn.
Closing Date: 07 Sep 2025
Department: Education & Research
Salary: The salary range for Research Assistant is £31,236 to £37,694 per annum. The salary range for Research Associate is £38,784 to £46,049 per annum.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
