The University of Sheffield
Research Associate - Post stroke communication disorders
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The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
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
We are seeking to appoint a Research Associate interested in post stroke communication disorders to join the School of Medicine and Population Health to work on a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded programme of work to co-design and evaluate a new Aphasia Partnership Training intervention. The intervention aims to help people with the communication disorder ‘aphasia’ and their family members communicate better together.
The post holder will be responsible for delivering work that aims to understand the context of implementing the new intervention. This will include conducting a national survey of current family communication partner training provision and exploring feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, adaptation and implementation of the new intervention alongside successive phases of evaluation/trial. The mixed methods process evaluation will include qualitative interviews, focus groups, self-report measures and video observations. It is essential that the post holder has some experience of qualitative and/or mixed methods research, and experience communicating with people with communication disorders. This role offers excellent professional development opportunities alongside an experienced research fellow, and benefitting from tailored training provided by the NIHR and the University of Sheffield, as well as project specific opportunities. Excellent communication skills are essential alongside a proven ability to work well in an interdisciplinary team. The role will contribute to the Faculty and University focus on applied research that has a positive impact on the delivery of health services to patients and staff.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
- Work independently and with the implementation work package leads to initiate and undertake a range of research activities
- Use accessible communication strategies in interactions with patients.
- Contribute to ethics applications for work packages to which the implementation work contributes
- Lead on organising, recruiting to and conducting qualitative research interviews with patients who have aphasia (communication disorder) after a stroke, their family members and speech and language therapists. This is likely to require some travel for participants who cannot participate online.
- Watch videos of intervention sessions and rate fidelity using a checklist.
- Collect and analyse self report measures.
- Coordinate research activity and liaise with members of the research team within the University of Sheffield and partner organisations to ensure delivery of research to study deadlines.
- Analyse qualitative data, supported by senior researchers in the team.
- Contribute summary fidelity and implementation findings in a timely manner to contribute to stop/go decisions for trialling the intervention, and any improvements required to the intervention or its training.
- Ensure that all research is conducted in accordance with relevant legislation and within the requirements of research ethics and governance, including recruitment of participants and obtaining informed consent.
- Contribute to writing study reports, conference abstracts and other dissemination materials.
- Liaise with the Patient and Public Involvement group and clinical reference group to ensure materials used are accessible, emerging findings are discussed and dissemination activities are inclusive.
- Attend team, research group and other section or School meetings as required.
- You will make a full and active contribution to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’. These include the achievement of excellence in applied research, and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine difference in the subject area and to the University’s achievements as a whole.
- You will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University of Sheffield One University strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
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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.
Criteria
Essential
- A research-based Masters or PhD in health-related discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Experience of planning, recruiting, conducting and analysing qualitative interviews with healthcare professionals and/or patients and carers.
- Experience of communicating with people with communication difficulties.
- Excellent IT skills and experience in the use of relevant software including SPSS, NVivo, Qualtrics, Google Suite, Word, (or other similar software).
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to tailor style to different audiences. E.g. writing academic articles, and plain English summaries.
- Project management skills and ability to work independently and undertake multiple tasks in a time sensitive manner.
- Practices in line with NIHR equality, diversity and inclusion principles (e.g. with respect to participant identification, recruitment and interviewing).
- Knowledge of a wide range of research methods and understanding of ethical and open access research principles.
- Collegiate attitude and ability to work well within a team.
- Ability to work sensitively and effectively when dealing with complex or sensitive research issues.
Desirable
- Experience of survey design, implementation research and/or quantitative data analysis using statistical analysis software.
- Experience of working in stroke care with people with aphasia.
Further Information
- Grade: 7
- Salary: £38,784 – £47,389
- Work arrangement: Part-time, 21 hours per week
- Duration: Fixed term August 2026 – 28th February 2031
- Line manager: APT Project Chief Investigator
- Direct reports: Implementation work package leads
- Right to work in the UK: If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
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Our website
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr
For informal enquiries about this job contact Prof Rebecca Palmer, APT Chief Investigator : on r.l.plamer@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 11th August 2026 This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage by the beginning of August. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact 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 41 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 Pathways.
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies.
- access to menopause support in the workplace.
- 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 Leader (opens in a new window). 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.
Criminal record
An enhanced DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).
Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).
This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.
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/
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