"Postdoctoral Research Associate in Participatory Research"

About the role:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Participatory Research to join an exciting National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) project that investigates and seeks to enhance the mental wellbeing of survivors of coercive control. This unique study has been co-developed with the Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network’s (VAMHN) Lived Experience Action Group (LEAG) and aims to build a theoretical framework for recovery and wellbeing that will inform the design of future interventions and services.

The postholder will play a central role in supporting and training peer researchers, collecting and analysing qualitative data, and leading on the development of the theoretical framework. They will work closely with the wider project team to ensure that survivor perspectives shape the research process and outcomes, and will contribute to dissemination through academic publications, conferences, and non-academic outputs such as policy briefings and creative engagement.

The role will report to Dr Sharli Paphitis, Senior Research Fellow in Qualitative Methods, and will be embedded in a collaborative, supportive environment that values participatory and trauma-informed approaches. King’s Women’s Mental Health and VAMHN are committed to creating a workplace that prioritises wellbeing, offers flexibility, and actively welcomes applications from those with lived experience of violence, abuse, or mental health challenges.

This is a part-time post (17.5 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract from 1st December 2025 until 31st December 2026.

About you:

Essential criteria

• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset with a commitment to inclusive and survivor-centred research.
• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, psychology, public health, or related).
• Demonstrable experience in participatory qualitative research approaches and conducting qualitative data analysis.
• Experience of working with peer researchers, including providing guidance and support in qualitative data collection and analysis.
• A strong grasp of the use of theory in qualitative research, ideally using theory building approaches such as grounded theory.
• Evidence of strong written communication skills, with examples of published academic articles or other work.
• Familiarity with the ethical and data security and governance requirements of Health Research Authority approved research studies.
• A strong commitment to trauma informed practice, wellbeing, and self and collective care.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of conducting research on violence, abuse, and mental health.
• Experience of working with or supporting peer researchers with experience of violence, abuse, or mental health challenges.
• Experience with creative and/or arts-based research methods.
• Experience of sharing research findings with non-academic audiences.