Research Assistant- EYESAVE PPIE ACTIVITIES

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.  
Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here 

The Department

The Department of Engineering at Durham University is recognised as being one of the very best in the UK. In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise of 2021, the Department had 95%25 of publications rated as 3*/4*, and all impact case studies graded 3*/4*. The Engineering Department demonstrates significant depth of research excellence across a range of disciplines, with activities that are currently concentrated around three Research Challenges (Sustainable Infrastructure, Future Energy Systems and Advanced Materials, Electronics and Communications) and eight Research Nodes which group staff under technical expertise and interest (see departmental research information).

We are particularly proud of the collaborative interdisciplinary nature of our research, which also includes strong industrial partnerships. The strategic vision for the Department includes a major growth over the next five years, with a significant enhancement of the research challenge portfolio and a drive to enrich our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research provision.

We are a scholarly community that is open, supportive, collegiate, representative and diverse: our commitment to this is expressed through the work of the Department's Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Committee, and our Athena Swan Silver Award.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated individual– either a Grade 7 PhD holder, or a Grade 6 graduate – to join the EYESAVE project, funded by the Vivensa Foundation Trust, as a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Lead. The project addresses the growing demands on glaucoma care by developing an AI-enabled triage platform that integrates retinal imaging, clinical data, and machine learning to support early detection and prioritisation of patients at risk of vision loss. The role involves leading PPIE activities to ensure that patient perspectives and lived experiences shape the design, development, and evaluation of the technology throughout the project.

Working in collaboration with clinicians, AI researchers, and vision scientists at Newcastle University, Sunderland Eye Hospital and Newcastle RVI, this position offers the opportunity to deliver meaningful impact by embedding co-production and patient voice into cutting-edge research. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with experience in public engagement, health research involvement, or community partnership working to contribute to a high-impact project with strong potential for clinical adoption and real-world benefit.

Grade 6 Research Assistant – Key Responsibilities

• To support the delivery of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activities within the EYESAVE project, ensuring that patient voices and lived experiences inform all stages of the research.
• To assist in planning, organising, and documenting PPIE meetings, workshops, and focus groups with patients, carers, and community representatives.
• To collect and summarise feedback from participants and contribute to the preparation of reports, presentations, and dissemination materials that communicate project progress and outcomes clearly and accurately.
• To liaise with the Principal Investigator, clinical collaborators, and the wider project team to ensure effective integration of PPIE insights into research design, evaluation, and dissemination.
• To identify and address practical issues affecting PPIE activities, discussing challenges with the project team and proposing creative, inclusive solutions.
• To assist with training and support for students and early-career researchers in good PPIE practice and public engagement methods.
• To be actively involved in the co-production of an AI-enabled glaucoma triage platform, ensuring that patient priorities, acceptability, and ethical considerations guide the project's design and outputs.

Grade 7 Postdoctoral Research Associate – Key Responsibilities

• To lead the design, coordination, and evaluation of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) across the EYESAVE project, ensuring meaningful patient input throughout the research lifecycle.
• To develop and implement a PPIE strategy that aligns with national best practice and Newcastle University's engagement framework, integrating co-production principles into project delivery.
• To conduct independent and collaborative research on PPIE methods, including evaluating engagement effectiveness and co-design outcomes, under the direction of the Principal Investigator.
• To publish and present outputs relating to the project's PPIE activities in relevant journals and conferences, contributing to the evidence base for inclusive AI-driven healthcare research.
• To contribute to the development of research objectives and proposals, ensuring PPIE elements are robustly represented in future funding bids and ethical submissions.
• To support the project's clinical and technical teams by translating patient and public feedback into actionable recommendations for the AI model's usability, transparency, and trustworthiness.
• To use initiative, creativity, and sound judgement to address challenges in engagement, ensuring diversity, accessibility, and sustained participation.
• To plan and manage PPIE workstreams, including budgets, timelines, and reporting obligations to funders.
• To provide training, mentoring, and guidance on PPIE practice to colleagues, students, and collaborators.
• To build partnerships with patient organisations, charities, and community networks to enhance the project's reach and impact.
• To lead the co-production of patient-facing materials explaining how the EYESAVE AI triage system supports glaucoma care and decision-making.

Responsibilities Common to Both Roles

• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To assist in contributing to support student projects on the use of research methods and equipment. 
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by attending relevant training and development courses.   

This post is fixed term for 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) as the project is time and funding-limited.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1st February 2026.

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You'll receive 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.

• We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.

• We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.

• We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.

• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.

• Our family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).

• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.

• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.

• Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.

• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It's important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries 

For a chat about the role or any further information, please contact Dr Rahele Kafieh ) or Professor Anya Hurlbert ).

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you're experiencing to  

Alternatively, you may call from the UK, or from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).  

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process 

How to Apply  

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.  

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.  

Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

• a CV and covering letter which details your experience, skills and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below.
• A cover letter which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below, indicating which post is being applied for.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails. 

Next Steps 

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department.  The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in or around a date to be confirmed. 

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. 

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.   

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Person Specification

Grade 6 Research Assistant (PPIE Focus)

Essential Criteria

1. A Master's degree (or equivalent experience) in a health, social science, psychology, public health, or related discipline.
2. Demonstrated ability to contribute to research and/or provide research assistance, including the use of standard qualitative and/or mixed-methods approaches.
3. Evidence of strong written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise, and well-structured reports for diverse audiences.
4. Experience in one or more of the following areas:
   • Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in health or clinical research
   • Community engagement, co-design, or participatory research
   • Health communication, outreach, or education activities
   • Supporting stakeholder workshops or focus groups
5. Ability to plan, coordinate, and document engagement activities involving patients, carers, and members of the public.
6. Demonstrated sensitivity to issues of inclusion, accessibility, and diversity when working with patients and community groups.
7. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, and patient representatives.
8. Evidence of good organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to meet project deadlines.
9. Experience in summarising qualitative or survey data and feeding back insights into research or service design.
10. Demonstrated ability to contribute to dissemination activities, including preparing accessible materials and presentations for lay audiences.

Desirable Criteria

1. A PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline such as public health, psychology, health services research, or social science.
2. Experience in health-related research projects, particularly those involving ophthalmology, visual health, or use of AI in healthcare.
3. Experience in developing or evaluating public-facing engagement materials (e.g. plain-language summaries, infographics, or videos).
4. Experience in collaborating with NHS, charity, or patient advocacy partners.

Grade 7 Postdoctoral Research Associate (PPIE Lead)

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

A PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline such as public health, psychology, sociology, health services research, or related field.

Experience
2. Proven experience in designing, leading, or evaluating PPIE activities within health or clinical research projects.
3. Experience in qualitative or participatory research methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, co-production workshops, or participatory evaluation).
4. Demonstrated understanding of national PPIE frameworks and good practice guidelines (e.g. NIHR or INVOLVE standards).
5. Track record of contributing to peer-reviewed publications, reports, or other scholarly outputs relevant to engagement or applied health research.

Skills
6. Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce accessible materials and reports tailored for patient, public, and professional audiences.
7. Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills, including the ability to work effectively with diverse groups, build trust, and manage sensitive discussions.
8. Proven ability to plan and manage engagement workstreams, budgets, and timelines in coordination with academic and clinical teams.
9. Demonstrated initiative and creativity in designing innovative approaches to public involvement and engagement.
10. Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload to meet project milestones.
11. Experience in contributing to research proposals and funding applications, particularly incorporating PPIE elements.
12. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment and translate patient and public feedback into actionable project recommendations.

Desirable Criteria

13.  Experience in ophthalmic or digital health research, especially involving AI, imaging, or diagnostics.

14.  Experience in developing evaluation frameworks to assess the quality and impact of PPIE activities.

15.  Proven record of collaboration with NHS partners, patient charities, or community health organisations.

16.  Experience in disseminating engagement outcomes via public events, policy briefings, or digital media.