Postdoctoral Research Associate in Work, Welfare & Mental Health
Department: Global Health & Social Medicine
About us
Our Centre for Society and Mental Health is a cross-Faculty initiative between the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy (SSPP) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN).
The centre aims to better understand the complex interrelationships between society and mental health, with a commitment to:
1. Ensure that the impact of social context is central to how we understand mental health;
2. Work in partnership with affected communities.
To help us complete this work, we are looking for a Research Associate to help ensure we meet our commitments.
About the role
You will work closely with Prof. Ben Geiger and Prof. Karen Glaser as part of the Centre’s ‘Work, Welfare Reform and Mental Health’ programme. This involves collaborating closely with an interdisciplinary team of researchers as well as the Centre’s academic and community partners.
Additionally, you will collaborate with researchers in the Centre’s Cross-Centre Hub on Data Resources to investigate intersecting disadvantages on mental distress and develop new projects. You will also work in full partnership with experts-by-experience or members of affected communities.
Using your experience in quantitative data analysis, you will examine the links between mental distress and health-related inactivity across work, care and welfare. You will also explore how individuals experiencing mental distress and their carers can remain in work, as well as the relationship between mental distress, workplace inclusion, and the evolving nature of work.
The post holder will commit 0.2 FTE of their time to the delivery of teaching in their faculty. This will be agreed with your line manager and may include leading or teaching on a module and supervising dissertations and student projects. In addition, there is an expectation that the post holder will develop independent research, including fellowship applications, with the support of the Centre.
This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30.04.2028 in the first instance, with a view to extending subject to funding.
About you
A list of the essential and desirable criteria is provided in your Job description.
Candidates will be advised to review the document supplied in the advert to identify where these criteria will be assessed.
We are asking candidates to demonstrate their experience on the following criteria:
* PhD, or in the final stages of obtaining a PhD, in a relevant area of social science (e.g., social policy, economics, demography, sociology, social statistics, social epidemiology).
* Advanced knowledge of contemporary policy and research debates on welfare policy and/or employment.
* Knowledge of advanced statistical approaches and data management best practices for longitudinal data analysis.
* Experience in analysing quantitative data using advanced statistical, econometric or policy evaluation methods.
* Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with research teams and people with lived experience, including good interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
* Demonstrated organisational and time management skills, to be able to work independently and to deadlines.
* Effective communication skills, including experience of presenting/disseminating research findings.
* Experience of preparing and publishing papers in refereed journals.
* Knowledge of research in the intersection between social sciences (such as social policy, economics or quantitative sociology) and mental health.
* Knowledge of advanced statistical techniques for policy evaluation using RCTs or quasi-experiments (e.g., difference-in-difference techniques).
* Relevant previous experience of working on interdisciplinary and/or international research projects.
* A desire and capacity to communicate effectively with, and influence, wider research, business, NGO and policy communities.
* Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with experts-by-experience or individuals from affected communities.
Further information
We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.
We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.
We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.
To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.
We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.
Grade and Salary: £45,497 per annum including London Weighting Allowance
Job ID: 113328
Post Date: 16-Apr-2025
Close Date: 12-May-2025
Contact Person: Karen Glaser
Contact Details: Karen.glaser@kcl.ac.uk
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