Postdoctoral Research Fellow

This new part-time post is available from 1/5/2023 until 30/06/2026 on a fixed-term basis. The role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time from campus and some from home.

The post
The College wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at 0.4 FTE (equivalent to 2 days per week, with the working pattern to be agreed between candidate and manager) to participate in a project examining associations between children’s play and their mental health. This UKRI funded post is available for 3 years from 1/5/23 (or as soon as possible thereafter) until 30/06/26. The successful applicant will oversee the day-to-day running of a feasibility trial focused on a school-based play intervention as well as have opportunity to get involved with a range of other research related to children’s play and mental health, including a national survey of children’s play and the development of a new therapeutic approach focused on parent anxiety. The research is funded by a prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship awarded to Prof. Dodd. The successful applicant will be excited and motivated by the area of research and have a desire to develop their own research within this area, or a related area.

The post will include developing strong relationships with schools and the intervention team, leading the administration of research questionnaires and school-based observations, record keeping and data management, data analysis, literature searches, writing of results and drafting papers for publication. There may be occasional travel to schools required, with related expenses paid.

About you
The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in children’s play or child mental health and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to work independently, problem solve challenging situations, communicate effectively and lead the careful analysis of data.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification (available on the university’s website, accessed by the apply button) for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research.
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly.
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development.
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career.
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave  (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy.
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.

For further information please contact Helen Dodd, e-mail [email protected] .

Interviews are expected to take place week beginning 17/4/2023.