Working with the RSS Sustainability Strategic Theme Lead and a small team of fellow researchers, the appointee will provide expertise in research methodology and topics relevant to priority research areas including sustainability in health and care (focussed on life cycle assessment/environmental footprinting).

The RSS aim is to provide researchers, especially (but not exclusively) those applying for and in receipt of NIHR funding with free access to support and expertise. Lancaster is host to one of eight RSS Hubs delivering the national service and the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Social Care, in partnership with the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester, and Manchester Metropolitan University. 

You will have a background in an area of relevance (e.g. environmental impact assessment, buildings / estates decarbonisation, energy efficiency), ideally experience in a variety of research methodologies and experience of working collaboratively with partners within and outside the academic setting. You will also have a track record of high-quality peer reviewed publications/grant income appropriate to your career stage.

Lancaster Medical School provides a friendly environment strongly supporting the individual needs of each employee and actively promotes a healthy work-life balance. The Faculty is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies and has held a Silver Athena SWAN award since 2014 in recognition of its good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research. 

The position is available for immediate start, and we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements including working week and days/hours worked, flexible start and finish times or condensed hours.

The role is open to being undertaken remotely but there will be certain duties/responsibilities that require in-person presence at Lancaster University. The balance will be agreed with the successful candidate.

You will join us on an indefinite contract however the roles remain contingent on external funding which currently is due to end on 30^th September 2028.

Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.

Find out what it's like to work at Lancaster University, including information on our wide range of employee benefits, support networks and our policies and facilities for a family-friendly workplace.

The University recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in higher education whilst promoting the importance and wellbeing for all our colleagues. 

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity. 

Closing Date: 25 Oct 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full time, indefinite with end date)

Division of Health Research (Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research) Grade 7

Full-time  

Lancaster University has a world-class reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research. It is in the top 1 per cent of universities in the world and highly ranked in each of the UKs major university league tables. Lancaster Medical School, within Lancaster University’s Faculty of Health and Medicine, is seeking to appoint an experienced Senior Research Associate to join the Mouth Matters in Mental Health Trial-2. The trial is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), to evaluate a link work intervention for supporting dental access in people with severe mental health difficulties. It is being conducted across five sites in the United Kingdom (Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Pennine Manchester, and London) with a truly multidisciplinary team of health researchers, dental researchers, and people with lived experience. 

You will be responsible for conducting a realist-informed process evaluation alongside the clinical trial, with support from the senior management team. They will have a strong background in qualitative research methods and health-related research and a PhD in a related discipline (or equivalent experience). Knowledge of mental health research and an understanding of realist methodologies and the processes associated with intervention and evaluation studies would be advantageous. 

The post will be based across Lancaster University and Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. It will involve some travel within the UK. 

Our team offer a friendly environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee and actively promotes a healthy work-life balance. The Faculty is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies and has held a Silver Athena SWAN award since 2014 in recognition of its good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements and welcome applications from people in all diversity groups.

You will join Lancaster University on an 18-month contract, with a recommended start date of early 2027. 

For further information on the role and to discuss any aspects of the position, please contact: 

Dr Jasper Palmier-Claus (Chief Investigator): j.palmier-claus@lancaster.ac.uk  

Dr Louise Laverty (Qualitative Lead); L.K.Laverty@leeds.ac.uk

Dr Tasneem Patel (Trial Manager): tasneem.i.patel@lscft.nhs.uk 

Closing Date: 14 Oct 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 full time, fixed term