University of Exeter

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Psychology

Exeter, United Kingdom

General Description

Applications are invited for a Graduate Research Assistant or Postgraduate Research Associate position within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Exeter. This fixed-term, part-time role is funded by the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration and supports an innovative co-development project focused on Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

The project, titled “Co-Developing a Video-Based Intervention to Support Parents of Children with ARFID: An Early Evaluation,” aims to design, refine, and evaluate a digital intervention to support families affected by ARFID. The work is embedded in a participatory research framework and places strong emphasis on patient and public involvement (PPI), particularly engagement with parents of children and young people with lived experience of ARFID.

The successful candidate will contribute to multiple stages of the research process, including coordination of co-production activities, stakeholder engagement, development and refinement of intervention materials, and the design and dissemination of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools. Responsibilities also include data analysis and preparation of findings for academic dissemination.

The role is based within the Psychology Department and offers the opportunity to work closely with leading researchers in mental health, eating disorders, and participatory intervention design.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should hold a relevant academic background in Psychology, Mental Health, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.

For Graduate Research Assistant level:

• A minimum of a first degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field
• Understanding of research methods and experience supporting research delivery
• Ability to engage with stakeholders and contribute to co-produced research activities

For Postgraduate Research Associate level:

• A PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional research experience
• Demonstrated experience in managing or contributing to research projects
• Familiarity with working with clinical or vulnerable populations, particularly in mental health or eating disorder research (desirable)

Required Expertise/Skills

Essential skills include:

• Experience in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
• Ability to collect, manage, and analyse research data
• Experience engaging with patient and public involvement (PPI) or lived experience groups
• Strong organisational skills to support multi-stakeholder research delivery
• Ability to communicate complex research findings clearly in written and oral formats
• Competence in working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team

Desirable expertise includes:

• Prior experience in eating disorders, ARFID, or child/adolescent mental health research
• Experience facilitating workshops or co-production sessions
• Familiarity with intervention development or digital health research
• Experience with survey design and mixed-methods evaluation approaches

Salary Details

£33,951 – £34,610 per annum (pro rata, Grade E), depending on qualifications, skills, and experience

Application Deadline

31 May 2026

Application Link

More opportunities link here!