Research Associate in Rheumatology - Strand, London, WC2R 2LSAbout UsThe Centre for Rheumatic Diseases sits within the School for Immunology & Microbial Sciences, in the Department of Inflammation Biology. The Centre for Rheumatic Diseases at King’s College London is an established hub for research excellence spanning epidemiology, data science, implementation research and clinical investigation. Our work brings together multidisciplinary teams focused on improving outcomes for people living with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The Centre collaborates closely with national partners and health data platforms including OpenSAFELY and maintains strong links with rheumatology services across the NHS. We have an active programme of patient and public involvement which informs all stages of our research.About the roleWe are seeking a Research Associate to lead a programme of work designed to improve timely vaccination uptake in individuals newly diagnosed with autoimmune diseases who are beginning immunosuppressive therapy. The postholder will develop a national improvement framework through stakeholder engagement, pathway mapping and intervention design. This will involve interviews with clinicians, patients and healthcare administrators to understand experiences and operational constraints, co-design workshops to map vaccination journeys and variation in delivery models, and a structured barrier analysis to identify challenges, resource limitations and policy gaps that influence timely vaccination. The role is suitable for post-PhD researchers with experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and ideally clinical experience in the field of rheumatology. The research associate will contribute to research activity across the Centre and work closely with senior academic supervisors. This is a part time post (16 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 12 months. Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.