Location
University of Warwick Campus, Coventry
Department
Psychology
Position Type
Fixed Term
Duration
Fixed term until 31 October 2027
Salary
£34,866 to £45,163 per annum
About the Role
For informal queries, please email Dieter Wolke (Professor) at d.wolke@warwick.ac.uk.
Project Title:
Born Very Preterm: A Natural Experiment of How Early Adversity and Social Environment affect Life Course Development (PRETERM_LIFECOURSE).
What scientific question will you investigate?
Outline of the project aims:
This post will focus on investigating how developmental adaptations after preterm birth or adverse environmental exposures are associated with trade-offs in terms of longevity; i.e. accelerated brain, physiological, cell and functional ageing.
Candidates should have experience of epigenetic sequencing, advanced statistical analysis e.g., regression, growth and structural equation models to determine protective and resiliency factors for accelerated ageing.
About the research group:
The research fellow will be part of the Warwick Lifespan and Neonatal Group (WarwickLNG), a multi-disciplinary group of Assistant professors, postdocs, research assistants and PhD students, and collaborate with collaborators at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Helmholtz Institute in Munich and the University of Bonn.
We have further international collaborations with the University of Helsinki and University of Oulu for this project and work closely with genetic researchers at the Louis Pasteur Institute, Paris and Max-Planck Institute in Nijmegen in a related project. You will be embedded within a vibrant multi-disciplinary research group with international partners with many learning opportunities.
The major outcome will be the delivery of ageing indices, and dissemination of results of analysis of whether accelerated or slowed ageing is associated with prematurity or healthy start in life and can be altered by exposures to negative or positive environments across childhood and early adulthood.
We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.
The post allows for hybrid working.
Keywords: Preterm, genetics, epigenetics, health, psychology, developmental adaptations, data analysis.
About You
We are looking for someone with expertise or knowledge in working with genomic and epigenomic sequencing data to compute polygenetic scores and in particular, various epigenetic ageing clocks. Knowledge of working with other biological markers to develop disease/ageing markers would be welcome. Applicants should be proficient in key biostatistics techniques that will be applied in this project, including advanced data analysis.
For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.
If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.
About the Department
The Department of Psychology prides itself on research. This reflects in our rankings and the international reputation of our academics. In the last REF, 100% of our Impact was judged as world leading or internationally excellent.
For further information about the Psychology Department, please visit our website.
Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, UK.
For more information about the lab, please visit: Research - Dieter Wolke: Professor of Psychology and Team.
About the University
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We're one of the world's top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK, with 92% of our research assessed to be 'world leading or internationally excellent'.
You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.
To find out more about us visit our website.
How to Apply
CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 25 February 2025 at 11.55pm.
To apply, please click 'Apply' below and submit an application form by the closing date. Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 11.30pm).
Please attach a CV and cover letter.
* Your CV should include your most recent employment experience, any other relevant experience, and education history.
* Your cover letter must detail how you meet each of the essential criteria found in the Job Description document below (desirable criteria too, where possible).
See here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and giving examples below, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.
To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications via our official website, warwick-careers.tal.net.
Interview Date: April 2025
Start Date: 30 June 2025.
What we Offer
We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.
If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation.
The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Silver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with.
In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all necessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (i.e. children and/or adults).
We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.
Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders
The University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (i.e. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.
Job Description
JD - Research Fellow (110081).pdf - 70KB Opens in a new window
Right to Work in the UK
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