Postdoctoral Research Associate

**Salary**

The starting salary will be from £34,610 up to £39,906 on Grade E, depending on qualifications and experience.

**Contractual hours**

36.5

**Package**

Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).

**Job category/type**

Research

**Date posted**

10/09/2025

**Job reference**

Q07903

**Faculty of Health and Life Sciences**

The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate. This NIHR funded post is available from the 1/12/25 to the 30/9/2027.

**The post**

The PROSPER programme is a physiotherapist delivered rehabilitation programme for patients following breast cancer that has been shown to be both clinically and cost-effective in a large NIHR funded Trail. To improve access by patients to the PROSPER programme and optimise implementation of the programme, we are developing and evaluating a digital version of the PROSPER programme (Digital PROSPER).

The post will include:
1. Literature review

Undertake a mixed methods systematic literature review to estimate the effectiveness of all types of digital rehabilitation interventions following breast cancer treatment and identify intervention components associated with effective interventions. We will review the broader literature including clinical guidelines regarding prehabilitation.

2. Co-design

3. Usability testing

Undertake usability testing of the prototype versions of digital PROSPER with up to 20 patients to produce the near final products.

**About you**

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to complete a mixed methods systematic review, lead the co-design of the development of a digital health intervention and undertake usability testing.

**Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.**

**What we can offer you**
- Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
- Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
- An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
- Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
- A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
- A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

**The University of Exeter**

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent

of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research - Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

**Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment**

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability C