Research Fellow (FTC 3.5 years)

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Glasgow Caledonian – the largest and leading modern university in Scotland - is a vibrant, values-led university with campuses in the heart of Glasgow and London. With a strong commitment to high quality education and research which supports the communities we serve, we have strong partnerships with employers to ensure our students get the careers they dream of and deserve.

In 2023 we rocketed into the top 40 universities in the UK in the highly regarded Guardian University Guide, were ranked the UK’s 2nd top performing modern university in the inaugural Daily Mail guide, and entered the top highly coveted 50 UK universities in the 2024 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for the first time. We are the top performing modern University in Scotland in all three guides. We are the only Scottish university with EcoCampus Platinum accreditation and were ranked second in Scotland for sustainability in the most recent People and Planet league table.

With a wide range of professionally accredited courses and links with over 300 industry partners, we have the highest proportion of undergraduate level graduates in highly skilled occupations (83%) compared to other Scottish modern universities - with 91% of our students in employment or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA 2023). We are Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships and we have transnational partnerships around the world, supporting more than 22,000 students from nearly 120 countries.  We are committed to widening participation, helping more people from diverse backgrounds into university.

Guided by our values – integrity, responsibility, creativity and confidence - we transform the lives of the people and communities we serve.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary world-leading research group based within the Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) in the School of Health & Life Sciences with a strong track record in delivering high impact research in design and evaluation of public health interventions across areas of blood borne viruses (BBVs), sexual health and substance use. ReaCH has an international reputation for delivering high impact research.

We are looking for an experienced quantitative researcher to work with us in the areas of epidemiology, substance use and blood borne-viruses. The successful candidate will primarily support a study funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). The main goal of this study is to evaluate the population-level impact of existing (e.g. Opioid-Agonist Therapy, Take-Home Naloxone) and novel interventions (e.g. Safer Drug Consumption Facilities) for reducing drug-related deaths in Scotland. The post-holder will play a key role in the analysis, interpretation and presentation of data from Public Health Scotland databases. The post-holder will liaise with a broader network of collaborators, including partners at the University of Bristol, Scottish Drugs Forum and Public Health Scotland.

The successful candidate will hold a relevant Master’s degree (e.g. public health, epidemiology, statistics) or other specialist post-graduate qualification or the equivalent level reached through experience, as well as being highly experienced in epidemiological analysis employing range of statistical modelling techniques.  Highly accomplished in working with large, complex, linked datasets, the successful candidate will have demonstrable skills in the ability to summarise and interpret quantitative data along with strong experience in using statistical software packages such as R or Stata.  A growth mindset, and an ability to use initiative and direct your own learning is essential as strong reflective and critical thinking skills, ability to attend carefully to detail.  Finally, the role holder will have effective interpersonal skills including communication (written and verbal) presentation skills.

PhD in a relevant subject area (e.g. public health, epidemiology, statistics), experience of publishing scientific studies in the peer-review literature and an interest in substance use and related harms is desirable.

For more information or to discuss this post further, please contact Andrew McAuley, Professor of Public Health, at Andrew.McAuley@gcu.ac.uk.

The Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) in the School of Health & Life Sciences has an international reputation for delivering high impact research. In the recent Research Excellence Framework assessment (2021) 91% of GCU’s health related research has been formally classified as world-leading or internationally excellent. More over, the impact of GCU’s applied health research was classified as ‘outstanding’ and surpassed by only one other UK institution. The University's outstanding record for delivering impact for the common good against the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals was also highlighted in the recent THE Global Impact Rankings with GCU 1^st in Scotland for SDG3, good health and wellbeing.

As the University for the Common Good, we are committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as our values in everything that we do.  As such, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate the GCU Values.

Glasgow Caledonian University is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process that is free from bias so that we can attract and retain a high performing workforce which makes a critical contribution to our success​.

The University holds the prestigious Athena SWAN Silver institution award, which recognises our significant record of activity and achievement in promoting gender equality across different disciplines.

As a Disability Confident 'Committed' employer, we are striving to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to disabled people. Although the Disability Confident 'Committed' level does not guarantee an interview for disabled applicants, we will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants during the recruitment process.

The University also holds the Carer Positive ‘Engaged’ employer award, which recognises our commitment to supporting staff with caring responsibilities.

Glasgow Caledonian University are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant. 

The University offers a range of benefits including opportunities for professional development, family friendly policies, cycle to work scheme and onsite childcare facilities.

Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception).