Research Fellow - Department of Applied Health Sciences - 106198 - Grade 7 - Birmingham - University of Birmingham

Description

Position Details

Department of Applied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to August 2028

Closing date: 17th September 2025

Please note: We are advertising for both a Research Associate and a Research Fellow , however there is only 1 post available.

Background

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow in statistics, or a related field, to join our research team in the Department of Applied Health Sciences. The successful candidate will support quantitative research activities across a range of projects, with a particular focus on an NIHR-funded cluster randomised trial evaluating virtual wards compared to standard care for patients experiencing acute exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful applied health research and influence future models of care for people living with COPD.

The post holder will play a key role in supporting quantitative data analysis, including the development of statistical analysis plans, and interpretation in a cluster trial setting. There are also opportunities to work on related methods, including development of simulation-based analysis and computational methods. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, and health economists. Your work will contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and implementation of innovative care models such as virtual wards, which are increasingly being adopted across the NHS.

This role is particularly suited to candidates with a strong quantitative background. We welcome applicants with training in mathematics, statistics, health economics, or epidemiology, particularly those with good numeracy and a strong interest in applied health research. We do not require a previous background in randomised trials. Familiarity with statistical analysis software (e.g., STATA, R, SPSS) and experience working with health-related data will be advantageous. The ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and communicate findings clearly is essential.

About the Project:

Virtual wards - also referred to as "hospital at home" - enable the provision of hospital-level care in patients' homes through the use of digital technologies that support remote monitoring and communication. These models may improve patient experience and outcomes while reducing hospital pressures. While previous randomised trials have suggested promising results, they have generally been small in scale, of varying quality, and have not evaluated system-level impacts or implementation challenges. Importantly, there remains a significant evidence gap regarding the long-term effectiveness of virtual ward approaches for COPD, their impact on patient and staff experiences, and the equity of access. This project aims to address these critical knowledge gaps.

Role Summary

• Work within the NIHR-funded BRIDGE study and with its team of co-applicants and collaborators
• Support delivery of the NIHR-funded D-STRESS cluster randomised trial
• Develop statistical analysis plans and related statistical code
• Contribute to methodological work around cluster randomised trials
• Contribute to generating academic publications, and reports
• Contribute to public understanding of virtual wards, COPD, implementation research, and inequalities

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop and execute statistical analysis plans and related materials, including code, for cluster randomised trials.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Deliver data analyses and support writing of research outputs for academic and lay audiences
• Disseminate research findings for publication, including research seminars and conferences
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing and evaluating new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding

Person Specification

• BSc (Hons)/Masters level or PhD, or near to completion (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field, including statistics, mathematics, computer science, epidemiology
• Strong mathematical and quantitative skills
• Familiarity or experience with data analysis methods (e.g. use of Stata, R, Python, or Stata)
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Excellent ability to work as a team and independently including co-ordinating own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
  Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Samuel Watson, email:

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .