University of Plymouth
Research Fellow
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Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 per annum - Grade 7
Job Reference: B1213
Location: Plymouth
Closing date: 12 midnight, Sunday 2 August 2026
Are you passionate about improving patient outcomes through research, co-design, and digital innovation?
The University of Plymouth is seeking a Research Fellow to play a key role in the development and evaluation of the SMART Footwear Digital Decision Support Tool—an innovative digital decision aid designed to support shared decision-making in diabetic footcare.
About the Role
Working within the School of Health Professions, you will help transform an existing paper-based Footwear Decision Aid into a digital module within the NHS CONNECTPlus app. Collaborating with academics, clinicians, patients, and digital specialists, you will ensure the tool is accessible, user-friendly, evidence-based, and relevant to those living with diabetes.
Reporting to Professor Sally Abey, Principal Investigator, you will work closely with podiatrists and orthotists across Torbay and South Devon, alongside NHS Digital Futures partners leading the app’s technical development.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support co-design and patient involvement activities
- Facilitate interviews, workshops, and feedback sessions with patients and clinicians
- Conduct qualitative data collection and analysis
- Translate user feedback into practical tool and content improvements
- Support feasibility and implementation research activities
- Contribute to dissemination, reporting, and future funding applications, including progression towards a larger cluster randomised controlled trial
About You
We are looking for someone with:
- Strong qualitative research skills
- Experience of co-design and patient/public involvement
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills
- The ability to work collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries
- An interest in digital health, shared decision-making, and improving outcomes for people living with long-term conditions
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Working Arrangements
Hybrid working available, with flexibility to attend campus and partner sites as required by business needs.
Expected start date: 1 October 2026
The successful candidate may be required to obtain an ATAS Certificate before commencing the research.
Find Out More
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Professor Sally Abey at s.abey@plymouth.ac.uk.
Apply
Please apply online and demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.
Learn more about the School of Health Professions: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools
For further details and how to apply: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/jobs
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