Research Assistant

Consultant - Arts, Health & Wellbeing Hub, will support King's College London's Arts, Health & Wellbeing Strategy through:

- Working with the AHW Programme lead to develop the AHW working group and online presence, and,

- Working with colleagues at IoPPN (lead academic Carmine Pariente) and across King's to prepare for the launch of Scaling-up Health-Arts Programmes: Implementation and Effectiveness Research (SHAPER).

A proposed task list is below; a work plan is to be devised with the AHW Programme Lead, Nikki Crane, for approval by Dan Walker. 

Work with Nikki to:

• Plan content and new formats for the next A/H/W Working Group meetings (3-4 meetings per year) and support engagement of members.


• Extend the wider King’s A/H/W (virtual) network
  
  
  
  • increase contacts
  
  
  • assist on researching and prioritizing information and news to share with the network to keep them informed/engaged
  
  
  • Create opportunities for more face to face contact with key players in A/H/W across faculties to boost recruitment and engagement
  
  
  
  


• Contribute to devising/planning the symposium on social prescribing, Autumn 2019, as part of Science Gallery Anxiety season. Support communications/engagement around this event involving the Working Group and wider network.


• Support the mapping exercise of A/H/W programmes across the university (Sotiris to undertake the desk research):
  
  
  
  • explore where the opportunity is for collaboration/interdisciplinary work across faculties
  
  
  • build a more joined up story to underpin the vision for A/H/W university wide
  
  
  
  


• Help to build up further knowledge and contacts in the areas identified as priorities in the A/H/W Exec Summary -including student mental health and wellbeing and Curriculum development - and identify best ways to strategically support these areas of work.


• Lay the ground for generating engagement in the King’s/Wellcome scale up programme SHAPER, maximizing the opportunities that this programme will bring within KHP and building momentum for the A/H/W hub at King’s
  
  
  
  • increase connections to relevant individuals and departments as part of communications/distribution
  
  
  • explore potential for events/symposia, knowledge exchange and learning opportunities - (much of this maps into the public engagement plan for Wellcome).
  
  
  
  


• Explore additional funding sources for SHAPER

Work to be undertaken specifically in relation to the King’s/Wellcome scale up programme  (SHAPER) - to be discussed

To ensure a smooth transition and no loss of momentum to the project - the following will need to be undertaken:

 

• Constructing our public engagement plans and activities

• Holding further discussions with further potential collaborators e.g. recommendation (from Robert Lechler) to get Prof Sally Marlow (psychiatrist) on board; inviting a research ethicist.


• Establishing our oversight programme board


• Constructing Gantt chart for the projects/programme– detailed analysis of dependencies etc


• Writing job descriptions / adverts for research and admin posts


• Beginning the ethical permissions paperwork - NRES IRAS and NIHR CPMS systems


• NIHR CRN registration for the research studies


• Securing intervention delivery spaces – work req’d to confirming ballet studios in South London


• Office set up at the Wohl Institute, Denmark Hill


• Setting up internal budget cost centres/codes and reporting mechanisms.

Advanced degree

• High degree of organisational awareness 

• Logical and evidence-based in decision-making (trained and published scientist).

• Adept in establishing extensive networks and nurturing good relationships with communities

in science, clinical medicine, education, ethics and social sciences, science communication,

arts, history of medicine, broader humanities, universities (UK and internationally), media,

financial institutions and with funding bodies.

• Track-record of leadership  

Can work independently or part of team.

• Highly personable with acute influencing skills.

• Resilient and tenacious.

• I am also a person who fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and inclusion are

regarded as strengths rather than a box-ticking exercise.

We are looking for a research assistant to support us for a short time with a number of projects in the Policy Institute?s Evidence Development and Incubation Team (EDIT).

The research assistant will work across a number of EDIT projects, supporting the team to co-ordinate the projects, and carrying out aspects of the qualitative research. The research assistant is likely to work on projects and evaluations that are focused on topics such as supporting those experiencing homelessness; providing employment support for those with disabilities; and improving adult numeracy and financial literacy. 

Activities will include tasks such as monitoring inboxes, scheduling qualitative interviews, arranging transcription, and maintaining folders and fieldwork logs. The research assistant?s work on qualitative research is likely to include data management in NVivo, conducting qualitative interviews, carrying out qualitative analysis if appropriate, and supporting with report drafting including literature reviews and background sections.

Undergraduate or MA degrees (or currently completing) in relevant field (e.g. social sciences) or direct experience conducting qualitative research.

Essential:

• Training in qualitative research approaches
• Experience conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews
• Experience and/or interest in policy research/social research
• Experience working as part of a team or in a co-ordination role

Desirable:

• Experience in carrying out qualitative data management in NVivo
• Experience conducting qualitative analysis
• Experiencing with drafting policy reports

Support and assist King's Climate & Sustainability (KCS) to manage our engagement activities. These activities include Staff Sustainability Champions, King's Climate Action Network, behaviour change campaigns (waste and travel), Sustainability Projects Fund, Carbon Literacy Training and developing other relevant training materials. 

It is crucial that the Sustainability Engagement Assistant works alongside the Sustainability Engagement Officer, and as part of the KCS team, to understand and contribute to the team's engagement priorities for maximum impact.
 

Role information:  

This role is hybrid and flexible. The KCS office is based in Strand. We have 2 engagement roles available. 

Start date: Monday 13th January 2025 
End date: Friday 13th June 2025  

Interview dates: 

Thursday 12th & Friday 13th December 2024 
 

Tasks may include (but not limited to):  

• Develop a database and conduct data analysis to track impact 
• Develop and align various feedback forms 
• Support engagement activities in advance of the waste campaign
• Provide admin support for ad-hoc tasks 
• Collect case studies from Sustainability Champions 
• Support the running of events (e.g. academic panel events on travel and offsetting)  
• Complete administrative tasks for Sustainability Champions audits in May 2025    
• Update guidance for sustainable travel 
• Support with the roll-out of Carbon Literacy Training 
• Support organising the annual Sustainability Awards ceremony 
• Help managing sustainability volunteers 
• Help developing sustainability training for Workrite 

• King's student or recent graduate 

• Proactive - able to take initiative in line with the team's priorities  
• Reactive - able to accommodate last-minute requests 
• Ability to plan ahead - able to develop plans for projects and communication goals ahead of schedule
• Ability to work independently 
• Ability to manage time effectively 
• Ability to demonstrate a passion for and commitment to equality & diversity and sustainability issues  
• Ability to analyse data and create visuals 
• Excellent at working as part of a team 
• Excellent attention to detail  
• Quick to react and change priorities and communication plans when needed