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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We are seeking an outstanding researcher wishing to lead an exciting mixed-methods research project with direct clinical application. You will join Professor Christopher McDermott at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) to work on a clinical research project focused on decreasing diagnostic delay of people with motor neuron disease (pwMND).

The post provides an excellent opportunity to undertake high quality research within a stimulating multi-disciplinary context working directly with a team of healthcare professionals and researchers from the University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham, Primary Care Sheffield, and the MND Association.

The aims of the MND Alert project are to:

• Develop an MND alert system that can flag possible cases of MND to GPs during consultations.
• Explore the accuracy and reliability of the MND Alert system.
• Interview primary and secondary care healthcare professionals to understand their experiences of using the alert system.

You will have the opportunity to lead the design, set-up and conduct of health services research projects, primarily using qualitative interviews. This will include writing protocols and other relevant supporting documents; assist with submissions for ethical, governance and regulatory approvals; lead the consent process, data collection and data analysis; and research findings dissemination.

You should have a PhD in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience). Experience of previous research or work experience within the NHS and excellent IT skills are essential for this role.

Main duties and responsibilities

Key duties specific to this position:

• Work in close collaboration with the senior investigators to manage the day-to-day delivery of the MND Alert study.
• Take a lead in the design, data collection, analysis and dissemination of various projects. These may include questionnaire surveys, freedom of information requests, qualitative interviews, and focus groups involving pwMND, their informal carers, healthcare professionals and NHS services.
• Lead and conduct patient and public involvement activities, liaising with people with experience of living with MND and supporting their involvement in the research.
• Write documents contributing to and supporting the work of the project, e.g., protocols, ethics applications, SOPs, interim reports and dissemination activities.
• Plan research activities and review progress on a regular basis in collaboration with other members of the team.
• Lead funding applications to support future projects developed by the team.
• Work with collaborators within the University of Sheffield, the University of Nottingham, Primary Care Sheffield, the MND Association, and beyond.
• Read academic papers, journals and textbooks to keep abreast of developments and use this information to brief colleagues and inform the work of the project.
• Travel to other areas of the UK to conduct field research, where necessary on an occasional basis. Travel arrangements will be flexible.
• To always maintain patient confidentiality.
• To ensure that the views of consumers are effectively sought, channelled, and acted upon, including the efficient actioning of the complaints procedure in accordance with the Trust policy in conjunction with the supervising consultant neurologist.

• You will make a full and active contribution to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’. These include the achievement of excellence in applied teaching and research, and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine difference in the subject area and to the University’s achievements as a whole.
• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• PhD in relevant discipline such as, psychology, sociology, neuroscience, health services research (assessed at application)
• Experience in leading the design, conduct and analysis of qualitative interviews. (assessed at interview)
• Previous research or work experience with patients and/or carers with long-term conditions or healthcare professionals (assessed at application)
• Excellent IT skills including the use and maintenance of databases and use of Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and statistical software packages (e.g., SPSS)
• Demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and verbal, report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations and communicating to staff at different levels of seniority (assessed at application)
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively with patients, members of the general public and non-academic audiences (assessed at interview)
•  A positive attitude to collaborative research and experience of working effectively within a multidisciplinary team. (assessed at application)
• Ability to engage with collaborators and secure delivery of action from them (assessed at application)
• Knowledge of ethical research frameworks and good clinical practice (GCP) and GDPR (assessed at application)

Desirable criteria

• Willingness to travel to multiple sites across the UK on an occasional basis (assessed at interview)
• Experience of research involving primary care, e.g., GPs (assessed at application)

Further Information

Grade: 8

Salary: £48,148 to £57,422

Work arrangement: Full-time

Duration: 6 months

Line manager: Head of the Better Outcomes in MND research group

Direct reports: Senior researchers within the Better Outcomes in MND research group

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/sitran

For informal enquiries about this job contact
Dr Liam Knox, Research Fellow: on L.knox@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place withing two weeks of the closing date. This will consist of a presentation of a previous academic project and an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing within one week of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Rebecca Brown at Rebecca.brown@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
 

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record

A standard DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Closing Date : 12/03/2025 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.