ABOUT THE ROLE
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will support the research team in conducting an Evaluation of the National School Fruit and Veg Scheme. The project will find out whether the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) supports higher intakes of fruits and vegetables in children.
This project involves a multi-disciplinary team across two Universities: The University of Leeds and Northumbria University. Participants from the North East and Yorkshire and Humber will be included. Fieldworkers will visit 40 primary schools in total across the two regions to observe and record what children eat during the school day. Children in Reception/Year 1/Year 2 will be included. Parents will record intake at home. Children from Year 2 will be followed up in Year 3 when they are no longer eligible for the SFVS to see if things change. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected through interviews and focus groups. A Research Fellow will also be appointed at Leeds University to focus on data collection in the Yorkshire and Humber. The two research fellows will work closely together.
The role holder will have a positive approach to collaborative research, with experience in qualitative analysis. In addition, they will have excellent time management, planning, and verbal and written communication skills, with an aptitude for working with diverse team members on multi-disciplinary projects.
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Leading on participant recruitment: schools, parents/carers and children in Reception/ Year 1 and Year 2, liaising with the team at Leeds University; monitoring recruitment of participants ensuring targets for child age, gender, deprivation level and ethnicity are met.
2. Preparing ethics application documents and organising, undertaking and analysing a small pilot test of methods planned.
3. Supporting the Project Management Group and recruiting PPIE team members in collaboration with our CoI PPIE representatives. Working with the PPIE team on specific public engagement activity to promote the project and provide feedback and recommendations.
4. Developing a logic model to drive the data collection tools.
5. Recruiting and training local fieldworkers and arranging for fieldwork in schools.
6. Collecting food environment data in schools, interviewing school staff.
7. Supporting collection of online food data using myfood24 and other data as needed.
8. Working with the Leeds based Research Fellow and project PI (Prof Cade) and co-Is (Prof Defeyter (Northumbria), Dr Greenwood, Dr Martin, Dr Evans (Leeds)) to ensure smooth running of the project.
9. Leading on qualitative data analysis. Analysing data from focus groups, and observations within schools.
10. Working alongside the research fellow in Leeds to support data collection using an online survey only, from a wider geographical area. Recruiting schools in relation to the implementation, strengths and weaknesses of the SFVS
11. Generating and pursuing independent and original research ideas in the appropriate subject area.
12. Developing research objectives and proposals and contributing to setting the direction of the research project and team including preparing proposals for funding in collaboration with colleagues.
The role is part time, fixed term, for 27 months, from September 2025 to December 2027.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 therefore the successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. For further detail see the job description. ABOUT THE TEAM
This Research Project is being delivered within the School of Education and Communities in collaboration with researchers at the University of Leeds. PI (Prof Cade), Dr Greenwood, Dr Martin, Dr Evans. ABOUT YOU Applicants should hold a PhD (or near completion) in Public Health, Public Health Nutrition or a closely allied discipline and have a strong background in public health related research.
13. Experience in qualitative data analysis.
14. Good time management and planning skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines, manage competing demands and work effectively under pressure without close support.
15. Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentations to a range of audiences.
16. A proven ability to work well both individually and in a team.
17. A strong commitment to your own continuous professional development.