Details
1098853
University of Leicester
07/07/2025
2 - 4 Weeks
18 working day - 37.5 hours per week
Smart Casual
Pay
£20.18
£2.44
Description
Role
The University of Leicester invites applications for a Research Associate to contribute to the final phase of the UniCoVac study: Assessing Mechanisms for Delivering COVID-19 Vaccines to University Students. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with Professor Christopher Bayliss and Dr Lieve Gies, and will be responsible for completing the statistical analysis of survey data and producing a draft manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed public health journal. This opportunity is well suited to candidates with a background in life sciences and experience in handling quantitative data, especially within an interdisciplinary and impactful research setting.
Duties and responsibilities
The core responsibility of the role will be to conduct statistical analysis of an existing dataset comprising approximately 300 to 400 completed questionnaires. The data was collected as part of the UniCoVac research programme, which investigates effective mechanisms for delivering vaccinations to university students. The post holder will be expected to apply advanced univariate and multivariate statistical methods and, where necessary, develop or adapt new analytical techniques to support the robustness of the findings. Familiarity with the range of prior UniCoVac publications will be essential to ensure that the analysis is contextualised within the broader programme of work.
Following the completion of the analysis, the Research Associate will take the lead in drafting an academic article based on the findings, in collaboration with the research team. This paper will mark the final publication in a series that has explored diverse aspects of student health, behaviour, and vaccine uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate strong writing skills and the ability to meet deadlines, while also contributing to the wider impact and visibility of the UniCoVac research. Time management and self-organisation will be key, as the post holder will work independently while maintaining regular contact with their supervisors and co-authors.
Skills and experience
Applicants must hold an MSc in Life Sciences or an equivalent qualification and should possess substantial experience in conducting statistical analysis. The role requires a strong track record of contributing to peer-reviewed publications or equivalent academic outputs such as technical reports or data analysis projects. The ability to solve analytical problems, apply advanced statistical models, and tailor methods to suit specific datasets is essential. In addition, the candidate should demonstrate excellent academic writing skills, sound time management, and the ability to collaborate effectively as part of a research team.
A PhD in Life Sciences or a related discipline would be advantageous, as would expertise in the use of R for data analysis. Knowledge of public health challenges, an understanding of the academic peer review process, and experience in interdisciplinary research are also desirable. The successful candidate will be expected to engage actively with the aims and values of the University, including its inclusive, inspiring and impactful research culture.
Location
Department of Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Studies
Additional information
To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role
Closing date for applications: Monday 7th July 2025
Unitemps is acting as an Employment Business, supplying temporary workers, in relation to this vacancy.
The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.
As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.
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