Research Assistant

Post Details

Part time (FTE 50%)
Fixed term for up to 18 months

£29,605 - £36,024 p.a. pro-rata

The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 05 March 2024
Interviews are expected to take place on the week commencing Monday 25 March 2024

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

The Post

Research Assistant position to work with Professor Gozde Ozakinci on a NIHR funded project ‘PET-CT guided, symptom-based, patient-initiated surveillance versus clinical follow-up in advanced head neck cancer (PETNECK 2)’.

Project Summary

Head and neck cancer is increasing rapidly, with 12,000 patients diagnosed in the UK each year. Currently, people finishing treatment attend a clinic review every 2-6 months for 5 years to check if the cancer has come back (called recurrence). If caught early, there is a better chance of successful treatment. However, most patients feel they are seen too frequently, which increases their worry about cancer recurrence. It is also inefficient because few cancers are found this way, and clinical services struggle with increasing demand. Recurrent cancers are much more likely to be found when patients ask to be seen because their symptoms have changed. Studies also show that a new type of scan, called PET-CT, done 1-year after treatment can identify patients who are unlikely to get recurrence and could therefore be followed up less frequently.

We have developed a new way of following up patients, called patient-led follow-up, which proposes patients have a PET-CT scan 1-year after finishing treatment. If no cancer is detected, they will be given an education session, by a nurse, about what symptoms of recurrent cancer to look out for. The information will also be given in print and online. The will then be on an ‘open urgent appointment’, which guarantees review by their clinical team within 2 weeks if they develop worrying symptoms, instead of regular clinic visits. We are now running a multi-centre national clinical study, comparing this new PET-CT guided, patient-initiated follow-up with the current routine follow-up (https://www.petneck2.com/). We aim to find out:
a. which way of follow-up is better at detecting cancer recurrence,
b. what effects these two ways have on patients’ experience, worry about recurrence and quality-of-life,
c. which follow-up way costs less, although this is not the main reason for running this study

The postholder will work with the wider PETNECK2 team and will be based at the University of Stirling, examining the fears of cancer recurrence both qualitatively and quantitatively between the two arms of the study. The postholder will conduct and analyse some baseline and follow-up interviews on fear of cancer recurrence as well as analyse questionnaire data collected as part of the clinical study.

The post holders will join the Health Psychology Research Group:

Health Psychology Research Group | About | University of Stirling

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Gozde Ozakinci, email: gozde.ozakinci@stir.ac.uk.

Description of Duties

The successful applicant will work with the Principal Investigator and will be responsible for running the day-to-day aspects of the study. Principally, this will involve:

• Project coordination for qualitative interviews
• Questionnaire compilation and statistical analysis
• Conducting qualitative interviews with the PETNECK2 research participants
• Transcribing and analysing existing and follow-up qualitative interviews
• Data entry and cleaning
• Producing Interim reports for research team meetings as well as supporting the writing of the manuscripts for publications
• Attending research team meetings
• Having regular meetings with the PI and PETNECK2 Team to track progress, resolve any theoretical, technical or analytical issues and discuss dissemination strategies.
• Travelling for interviews occasionally as required.
• Develop further research projects with PI and PETNECK 2 Team

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• Master’s degree, in the field of Health Psychology or a cognate discipline

Research

• Evidence of being able to conduct empirical research/enquiry independently.
• Evidence of research experience, in quantitative and qualitative study designs

Skills, Attitude, & Behaviour

• Evidence of good administrative and project management skills
• Proven ability to establish rapport and interact effectively with patients, health care professionals and colleagues
• Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work independently
• Experience of qualitative and quantitative research methods and analyses
• Time management skills including ability to prioritise workload
• Trustworthy and reliable
• Willingness to travel for interviews occasionally as required
• IT and computing and statistical skills

Desirable Criteria

• A doctorate, in the field of Health Psychology or other relevant discipline or equivalent qualification (e.g., Stage 2 Health Psychology degree and additional relevant experience)
• Experience in drafting papers for publication and report-writing
• Experience of working in a research team

Behaviours and Competencies

The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

About Us

The Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS) encompasses the Divisions of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Computing Science and Mathematics, Psychology, and the Institute of Aquaculture. FNS is a distinctive academic arena where new fundamental understandings of the complex and challenging inter-relationships between human behaviours, technologies, biological and environmental systems are created, explored, and tested. The most recent national assessment of research - REF2021 -confirmed that 80% of our research is classed as world leading and internationally excellent. It is supported through UK Research Councils, European Union, and a range of research charities We work with businesses and public service organisations both at home and overseas to achieve direct and positive outcomes for society across a range of critical problems. Substantial investment aligned with the City, Region, and Growth deals is supporting major new infrastructure developments linked to the Faculty including Scotland’s International Environment Centre and the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub.

Psychology

Stirling Psychology delivers world class scientific research, coupled with innovative and reflective research-led teaching. In REF2021, we were rated 2nd in Scotland for research impact. We aim to foster basic research in the science of mind and behaviour, linked to direct impacts for society. Our research strategy focuses on the development of inter-disciplinary multi-methods approaches and our academics work collaboratively across three research themes: Cognition in Complex Environments; Behaviour & Evolution; and Health and Behaviour Change. A common thread across our research projects is a desire to develop theoretical understanding of behaviour in complex real-world settings. Psychology has invested heavily in research infrastructure, including our own Kindergarten. Purpose built laboratories provide support for health, human electrophysiology, face and vision research, mobile technology, virtual/augmented reality, and recent investment in a Lifespan Laboratory facilitate developmental and comparative research.

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University – also home to 1,700 staff – is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

The University is a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni

Job Reference: FAC01903