Research Assistant – Maternity Health & Inequality

The Role

Applications are invited for an ambitious Research Assistant/Associate to work at Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute, across a nationally‑leading research programme funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) as part of the NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium (MDC) .

The NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium (NIHR MDC) is a £50 million NIHR investment which brings together a diverse range of organisations with expertise in research, capacity development and working with people and communities to deliver a step change in maternity outcomes and developing future research leaders in this area of need. The research carried out by the consortium will focus on inequalities before, during and after pregnancy.

The postholder will work within the Pregnancy, birth and early postnatal maternal health theme, with particular focus on research programmes in cardiometabolic risk prevention and management and equitable perinatal mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.

The NIHR MDC is co‑ordinated from Newcastle University (Research and Capacity Development) and the University of Birmingham (Research). The postholder will be based at Newcastle University. The University operates blended working but it is expected you will spend the majority of your time on site.

The researcher will support the MDC in delivering impactful research and knowledge mobilisation activities with partners across the health and care system. You will be expected to support the development and delivery of components of the theme’s research programme for the initial 21 month period.

This is a full‑time fixed term role for 21 months.

Find out more about our Research Institutes here:

• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co‑ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate
• Work alongside NIHR MDC colleagues and research themes to ensure coherence across work programmes with a focus on cardiometabolic risk prevention and perinatal mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
• Work with community organisations to ensure meaningful involvement and engagement
• Support the development of research studies relating to perinatal mental health and cardiometabolic care within the Consortium

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
• Apply diverse, participatory methods such as Appreciative Inquiry, and to co‑produce interventions concerning perinatal mental health and psychosocial wellbeing and cardiometabolic care for embedding into routine maternity and postnatal systems

• To undertake appropriate administrative tasks
• To attend relevant workshops and conferences as necessary
• To attend regular research team meetings
• Maintain professional development by undertaking any necessary training and/or development through the university and/or NIHR MDC
• To comply with relevant Health and Safety regulation, GDPR, and University policy legislation and regulations, e.g. Equality & Diversity

• Ability to plan, organise and undertake a complex…