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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.
Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant (Grade 6) or Research Associate (Grade 7) in Systematic Reviewing to support our Evidence Synthesis Centres within the School of Medicine and Population Health.
Your primary role will be to conduct systematic reviews and rapid reviews to summarise evidence on healthcare interventions and evaluations of diagnostic and screening tests. This work will inform policy decisions from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and other organisations. Your role will also include leading or contributing to multidisciplinary project teams, supporting development of funding proposals, development of systematic review methodologies, dissemination of findings in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and undertaking teaching and student supervision.
Ideally, you will have a PhD (for the Grade 7 Research Associate role) or postgraduate qualification (for the Grade 6 Research Assistant role), or equivalent experience of systematic reviewing, ideally including reviews of diagnostic and screening tests. Candidates should possess strong numerical skills, high level of attention to detail, excellent scientific writing ability, and good working knowledge of appropriate software such as Microsoft Office and reference management software.
Main duties and responsibilities
Working under the supervision of a senior researcher, you will participate in a variety of activities such as:
- Carry out or contribute to high-quality systematic reviews across a range of topics to inform national health policy, for clients including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and other organisations.
- Write clear and concise reports to summarise your findings, paying close attention to detail.
- Work collaboratively with wider members of the project team, including members of our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team, information specialists, economic modellers, statisticians, clinical experts, and the project co-ordinator.
- Communicate effectively with collaborators both within and external to the University.
- Plan and manage your contribution to each project, in conjunction with the project team, to meet agreed deadlines.
- Disseminate research findings through writing or contributing to publications for peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences or seminars.
- Develop or contribute to grant proposals for research and knowledge exchange projects.
- Undertake or contribute to methodological research in systematic reviewing and evidence synthesis.
- Contribute to our teaching programme, including delivering lectures, tutorials and short courses, developing online teaching materials, and supervising students.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Essential criteria for Grade 6 and Grade 7
- Bachelor's or Masters degree in a health-related discipline, or equivalent experience (assessed at: application).
- Experience of undertaking key stages of systematic reviewing, such as study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, data checking and synthesis (assessed at: application and interview).
- Good IT skills and experience in relevant software such as Microsoft Office and reference management software (assessed at: application and interview).
- Excellent numerical ability and experience of understanding, critiquing and analysing quantitative data (assessed at: application and interview).
- Excellent ability to write clear and concise reports with good attention to detail (assessed at: application and interview).
- Ability to communicate effectively and work productively within a multidisciplinary team (assessed at: application and interview).
- Ability to prioritise workload and complete work to strict deadlines (assessed at: application and interview).
Additional essential criteria for Grade 7 (desirable for Grade 6)
- PhD in a health-related discipline, or equivalent experience (assessed at: application).
- Experience of leading a systematic review project (assessed at: application and interview).
Desirable criteria for Grade 6 and Grade 7
- Experience of undertaking systematic reviews of screening or diagnostic tests (assessed at: application and interview).
- Experience of developing research or knowledge exchange funding proposals (assessed at: application and interview).
Further Information
Grade: 6 or 7
Contract type: Fixed-term for 2 years / Flexible options considered. Hybrid working is an
option, though the post-holder would need to work from the office in Sheffield at least 60% of
each week
Line manager: Senior Research Fellow in Systematic Reviewing
Direct reports: None
Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr
For informal enquiries about this job contact
Katy Cooper, Senior Research Fellow in Systematic Reviewing: on k.l.cooper@sheffield.ac.uk.
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on Monday 3 March 2025. This will consist of an interview with a 5-minute presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 24 February 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Lauren Hartley at dph-section-operations@sheffield.ac.uk .
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
What we offer
- A minimum of 38 (Grade 6)/ 41 (Grade 7) days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathway.
- A range of generous family-friendly policies
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- support for those going through the menopause
- paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- and more
More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.