Role: Research and Innovation Associate
Grade and Salary: Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 (pro rata)
Contract Type: Full Time (0.6FTE), Fixed Term (17 months, 1st November 2025 until 31st March 2027)
Location: Edinburgh Campus
Detailed Description
An opportunity is available for a part-time post (60% FTE) Post-Doctoral Research and Innovation Associate to join a research project which will work with autistic people and care staff to explore ways that technologies might help people as they get older. The project, in collaboration with Scottish Autism, will co-produce a vision for health and wellbeing as supported people age. The project will: i) identify which areas would be best supported by technologies, have the most impact on people’s lives, and be the most likely to be adopted by autistic people and their support staff with the social care setting; ii) develop resources which will explain what the technologies can do, how staff can discuss technology with autistic people who have learning disabilities, and support understanding and consent regarding using these tools in everyday life.
The Research and Innovation Associate will be responsible for: supporting workshops, collation of materials, monitoring and evaluation, organising meetings, interviews, liaising with partner organisations, supporting data analysis, and writing dissemination materials.
The post holder will interact on a regular basis with the research team. The post is available from 1st November 2025 until 31st March 2027.
Candidates should have completed or be near submission of a PhD in Social Sciences or related disciplines e.g. Psychology, Linguistics, Cultural Studies. Experience in qualitative research methods and data analysis, working with marginalised individuals, groups and communities; public engagement and effective communication skills are essential for the post. Experience working with autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities is highly desirable.
The Team
This project is a partnership between Scottish Autism, Heriot-Watt University, Northumbria University and the University of Sheffield. The team is led by principal investigator Professor Mary Stewart, with co-investigators Dr Mauro Dragone and Dr Dan Hale, and researcher Bryony Nisbet from Heriot-Watt University, and Prof Ian Kellar from University of Sheffield. We work in partnership with Scottish Autism with Dr Joe Long, Daniel Mayol Jimenez, and Dr Kirsty Ainsworth.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder is required to
1. Work closely with the project leads and the project team to ensure that tasks of the project are carried out in a timely and effective way. These will include organisation of meetings, workshops and events; liaison with project partners and stakeholders; data collation and analysis; work on project comms and outputs, general administration.
2. Report verbally and in writing on all aspects of work undertaken as required by the project leads
3. Take part in project meetings and make presentations of the work done as agreed with the project leads
4. Ensure confidentiality on all matters and information obtained during the course of employment and respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means in line with the Data Protection Act
Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential Criteria
5. Applicants should hold a PhD or be near completion of their PhD in a related discipline e.g. Psychology, Social Science, Linguistics or in Robotics or Health and Social Care Technologies.
6. Applicants should hold a UG degree (awarded 2:1 or above) and have:
7. Experience in participatory research methods
8. Experience in working with community stakeholders
9. Experience with applying for ethical approval
10. Effective communication skills
11. Ability to formulate and progress work on their own initiative
12. Evidence of research ability: problem solving, flexibility
13. Ability to work as part of a team, with partners, and collaborators at other universities
Desirable Criteria
14. Masters Degree or equivalent
15. Experience working with people with learning disabilities
16. Experience of interviewing research participants
17. Capability to be self-directed and think innovatively
18. Experience of working in a team environment
Travel
Some travel may be required across the central belt in Scotland.