Postdoctoral Research Associate

Contract Type: Fixed Term (20 months)

Interview Date: To be confirmed

The Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing (ARCHA) is a partner in the EU funded programme of research: ‘Frailty management Optimisation through EIP AHA Commitments and Utilisation of Stakeholders input (FOCUS)’. The project focuses on reducing the burden of frailty in Europe by assisting partners within the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing (EIPAHA) with their commitments to early diagnosis, screening and management of frailty.

The successful post holder will be employed directly in specific Work Packages of this project and contribute outcomes to other work packages as required. Within this 20 month role you will need to complete the following activities: (1) make a significant contribution to ongoing systematic reviews and overviews of existing evidence on screening and interventions for frailty across Europe, producing appropriate appraisals of quality and meta-analysis of different types of data, (2) conduct focus groups, analysing outcomes using appropriate theoretically based qualitative methods to elicit the priorities and concerns of stakeholders regarding frailty in the UK (3) co-ordinate synthesis of results from (1) and (2) and other contributions across Europe, pro-actively engaging with a large consortium; (4) conduct and analyse a survey to assess current practice across Europe  (5) Contribute to modelling of frailty related predictors of health and social care needs and outcomes using existing large datasets, (6) Determine impact of the outcomes of frailty interventions on care needs and costs (7) Contribute to feasibility studies of frailty interventions, working with health and social care providers (8) Contribute to other aspects of the work packages as required.  You will work with senior investigators within ARCHA, Aston University, and further co-investigators based in Europe. The post requires evidenced experience of working with this type of data, and PhD level background in psychology or a related discipline. Quantitative and qualitative analysis experience must be evidenced.

You will be a dedicated and independent researcher who will manage the data collected from the systematic review, focus groups and structured survey, and produce written reports for project deliverables and peer reviewed publications. You will need to co-ordinate and facilitate communication between researchers based across Europe in this exciting collaborative project. Ability to proactively manage responsive working in a complex project is a key requirement.

You will additionally contribute to ARCHA’s research agenda at Aston University.

Ability to travel within Europe occasionally is essential.

The post is full time but could be filled by a job share arrangement.

If you require any further information, please contact Dr Carol Holland (UK PI for project) c.holland1@aston.ac.uk

The role is expected to last 20 months and the provisional start date is the 1^st of May 2016.

Aston University is committed to disability equality and is a Positive about Disabled People Symbol User.

Please visit our website http://www.aston.ac.uk/jobs for further information and to apply online.  If you do not have access to the internet telephone 0121-204-4500 and leave your name and address quoting Reference number R160075

Interview date: To be confirmed