Researcher 1A (0.6FTE)

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This is a part time (0.6 FTE)/ fixed term opportunity for 18 months

Glasgow Caledonian, the largest and leading modern university in Scotland, is a vibrant, values-led university with campuses in the heart of Glasgow and London. With a strong commitment to high quality education and research which supports the communities we serve, we have strong partnerships with employers to ensure our students get the careers they dream of and deserve.

In 2023 we were in the top 40 universities in the UK in the highly regarded Guardian University Guide, were ranked the UK’s 2nd top performing modern university in the inaugural Daily Mail guide, and entered the top highly coveted 50 UK universities in the 2024 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for the first time. We are the top performing modern University in Scotland in all three guides. We are the only Scottish university with EcoCampus Platinum accreditation and were ranked second in Scotland for sustainability in the most recent People and Planet league table.

With a wide range of professionally accredited courses and links with over 300 industry partners, we have the highest proportion of undergraduate level graduates in highly skilled occupations (83%) compared to other Scottish modern universities - with 91% of our students in employment or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA 2023). We are Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships and we have transnational partnerships around the world, supporting more than 22,000 students from nearly 120 countries.  We are committed to widening participation, helping more people from diverse backgrounds into university.

Guided by our values – integrity, responsibility, creativity and confidence - we transform the lives of the people and communities we serve.

The Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) in the School of Health & Life Sciences has an international reputation for delivering high impact research. In the recent Research Excellence Framework assessment (2021) 91% of GCU’s health related research has been formally classified as world-leading or internationally excellent. Moreover, the impact of GCU’s applied health research was classified as ‘outstanding’ and surpassed by only one other UK institution. The University's outstanding record for delivering impact for the common good against the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals was also highlighted in the recent THE Global Impact Rankings with GCU 1st in Scotland for SDG3, good health and wellbeing.

The Department of Vision Sciences at GCU is unique in the UK in providing undergraduate training in optometry, dispensing optics, and orthoptics, as well as postgraduate provision for these disciplines. The department has a long history of providing highly-rated education and training in eyecare, underpinned by internationally renowned, impactful research. The Department of Vision Sciences houses its own purpose-built clinical eyecare facility, the GCU Vision Centre. The Vision Centre is equipped with the latest diagnostic and imaging technology and is open to members of the public for eye examinations, fitting and supply of contact lenses and spectacles. The Centre provides a range of specialist clinical services, catering for approximately 4000 patients per year.

 

The Department of Vision Sciences has a vibrant research culture, and our staff are successful in generating income, training postgraduate research students, and publishing research outputs in quality peer-reviewed journals. This is demonstrated by GCU’s success in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission (2021). REF 2021 found that 91% of the university’s research activity in Unit of Assessment 3 (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy) was formally classified as world-leading (4 star) or internationally excellent (3 star), with researchers from Vision Sciences making a significant contribution to the institution’s submission in this area.

We are looking for an enthusiastic qualitative researcher to work on an exciting project exploring the barriers that people experiencing homelessness face when requiring eye care and spectacle corrections. This research is funded by the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust. You will work in close collaboration with, and under the supervision of, Dr Sven Jonuscheit, who leads the Glasgow Caledonian University’s (GCU) Vision research group.

The post-holder will also work closely with the wider project team, particularly Prof Gunter Loffler and Prof Carol Emslie and colleagues within GCU and at collaborating organisations.

Your responsibilities will include developing interview schedules, collating information from social media, recruiting respondents, conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups, analysing qualitative data and contributing to presentations, reports and papers. Specifically, you will facilitate (with support from senior researchers) data collection with people with experience of homelessness about their experience of accessing eye and vision care. Due to the nature of the work, the candidate will need to be willing to work flexibly to ensure recruitment and fieldwork at local day centres for people experiencing homelessness in Glasgow and be willing to liaise with members of the advisory group and partner organisations.

Applicants must be highly self-motivated, have excellent written and oral communication skills,  have experience of conducting and analysing qualitative research, and a relevant Master’s degree in a Social Science related or Public Health discipline, ideally in relation to vision sciences/optometry or alternatively a degree in Vision Sciences with demonstrable experience in qualitative research.  A PhD (awarded or thesis submitted) in a Social Science related discipline or Public Health, ideally with relation to Vision Sciences, would be an advantage.

Informal enquiries about this opportunity should be made to Dr Sven Jonuscheit at Sven.Jonuscheit@gcu.ac.uk

As the University for the Common Good, we are committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as our values in everything that we do.  As such, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate the GCU Values.

Glasgow Caledonian University is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process that is free from bias so that we can attract and retain a high performing workforce which makes a critical contribution to our success​.

 

The University holds the prestigious Athena SWAN Silver institution award, which recognises our significant record of activity and achievement in promoting gender equality across different disciplines.

As a Disability Confident 'Committed' employer, we are striving to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to disabled people. Although the Disability Confident 'Committed' level does not guarantee an interview for disabled applicants, we will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants during the recruitment process.

The University also holds the Carer Positive ‘Engaged’ employer award, which recognises our commitment to supporting staff with caring responsibilities.

Glasgow Caledonian University are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant. 

The University offers a range of benefits including opportunities for professional development, family friendly policies, cycle to work scheme and onsite childcare facilities.

Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception).

As this role involves Regulated work with Adults and/or Children the successful candidate will require PVG Scheme membership.