Research Fellow (1.0FTE)

This is a full time/fixed term opportunity for 36 months

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Fellow to join the NIHR-funded project Community Wealth Building (CWB) Evaluation: Learning Lessons from Scotland (CoWBELLS), based in the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). We are looking for a Research Fellow with excellent interpersonal skills and experience of collecting and analysing qualitative and survey data, ideally using Qualitative Comparative Analysis, in the context of theory-based, mixed methods impact evaluation of complex interventions.

The project is a collaboration between researchers at GCU, Glasgow and Lancaster Universities and the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, involving close working with stakeholders in Scottish Government, the health and local government sectors and the third sector.

The Yunus Centre hosts 17 academic and research staff and 11 PhD students. Our research focuses on social innovation, health, wellbeing and inequalities. We aim to transform the lives of communities through pioneering research in the following areas:

• Social economy
• Economics of health and wellbeing
• Community development, citizenship and participation

The CoWBELLS project is a mixed methods, theory-based, impact evaluation of CWB in Scotland. CWB aims to increase communities’ share of and influence over the wealth within local economies. It is currently being rolled out in Scotland. The project will assess whether and how CWB has been implemented in Scotland and the impact it has had on economic, population health and health inequality outcomes.

The team includes experts in the social economy, evaluation of complex public health interventions, health economics, public health, statistics applied to public health evaluation, qualitative comparative analysis and public engagement. The project combines qualitative and quantitative methods, policy and impact analysis, and public participation.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant research field or equivalent experience from relevant research roles and will work with statutory and non-statutory partners to recruit participants, generate and analyse qualitative data and survey data, undertake Qualitative Comparative Analysis and write up findings, whilst keeping records in accordance with information governance, data protection and research ethics best practice. You will have excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to exercise initiative, show a high degree of responsibility and, at times, work under pressure to tight deadlines. The success of the project will depend on the Research Fellow’s abilities to maintain good working relationships with partners and participants.

You will be able to demonstrate substantial previous experience of conducting primary research as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and working with research partners to recruit participants. You will have well-developed qualitative skills and experience of mixed method research, theory-based, impact evaluation including the use of Qualitative Comparative Analysis, although training and support will be provided where necessary. You will have a track record of writing for public audiences and publication in peer reviewed academic journals.

The post is available from October 2025. The post holder will be based at the Yunus Centre at GCU https://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/researchcentres/yunuscentre.

For further details or to discuss the role further, contact Professor Neil Craig at neil.craig@gcu.ac.uk.