Researcher: Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement; PPIE and Coproduction Lead

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to shaping the PPIE/Coproduction strategy for an ambitious new five-year, multi-project funding designed to strengthen mental health research capacity and capability across the South-West Peninsula (SWP). This includes developing outstanding mental health research Patient and Public Involvement, ideally reaching Coproduction standards. The SWP region faces high and complex mental health needs, and the research programme seeks to generate solutions that are responsive, equitable, and grounded in lived experience.

The work is in partnership with King’s College London and the University of Exeter, focusing on a broad “system balance” programme of research to improve equity and sustainability in mental health care systems.

• Alongside the Working With People and Communities lead, the PPIE co-applicants, and others with lived experience of mental health problems, co-design, coordinate and evaluate PPIE activities across multiple projects.
• Recruit, coordinate, and provide pastoral support for the overarching lived experience advisory group.
• Advise and liaise with research project leads regarding the involvement of people with lived experience in existing and potential future projects, in collaboration with the Working With People and Communities lead.
• Empower project leads to design and undertake good PPIE in-line with overarching PPIE policies and national standards; upskill and advise project teams on appropriate PPIE with the aim of achieving co-production where possible.
• Receive support from administrative assistance from the professional services team; work with the Working With People and Communities Lead to develop experience in PPIE strategy design and evaluation.
• Collaborate with and be supported by our PPIE co-applicants and collaborators at the McPin Foundation as part of the capacity-building aspect of the funding.
• Travel to meet with lived experience collaborators as required.

• Position is advertised at Research Fellow (Grade
  7) and Researcher (Grade
  6) levels, with role-specific personal specifications aligned to each grade. There is one post available, and appointment will be made at the level most appropriate to the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and experience. Applicants are advised to apply for the level that best reflects their suitability. Candidates who wish to be considered at both levels must submit separate applications for each role.

• This post is funded initially for five years, covering the development of the research group and the five research projects that form part of the initial work. The aim is that the initial five years lead to other projects and an ongoing self-sustaining research group beyond the funding window.
• Encouragement and support for researchers to contribute to funding bids as part of the capacity-building plan; applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems are welcome, but disclosure is not essential. The team supports researchers regardless of disclosure, emphasising a safe environment for individual choices.
• The role will require travel to meet with lived experience collaborators.

The role is based at the Plymouth University North Campus office, with expected attendance approximately once a week for team meetings and team days. Travel to sites in Plymouth, Cornwall and Somerset, and elsewhere, will be required as project needs dictate.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role, please contact Charley Hobson Merrett at charley.h

This post is a part-time position working 29.6 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for five years, from May 2026 onwards.

The Faculty of Health holds four Silver Athena Swan awards recognising commitment to gender equality in higher education. The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos supported by the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Earth Institute. Staff contributions across the University are expected to be innovative, collaborative, and impactful as part of a systems-thinking approach to global challenges.

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills, and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement. Following the closing date, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Staff appointed within the Faculty of Health may be able to join the NHS pension scheme subject to eligibility criteria. A wide range of staff benefits are available depending on eligibility.