Research Fellow (111119-1225)

About The Role

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Sagar Jilka, Assistant Professor at Sagar.jilka@warwick.ac.uk

You will join the Warwick Medical School as a Research Fellow to support research activity for the externally MRC funded project: “Implementing Early Mental & Physical Health Detection & Support: Promoting a Whole-School Approach to Health and Well-being” (ISOBAR). You will work with partners in India and Nigeria. The project is led from Warwick Medical School (WMS) by PI Professor Swaran Singh, who also has overall management responsibility for the project

About You

You will have a research background in a health-related social science, health management, global health, applied health, implementation science or related field. You will have responsibility for supporting and where applicable, leading research activities in consultation with the Principal Investigator (PI), Lead Senior Research Fellow, Dr Sagar Jilka and the wider Warwick project team. You will have knowledge and experience in mixed methods research, ranging from qualitative, both data collection and analysis and demonstratable quantitative research skills. Experience working with people with lived experience of mental health problems and experience in patient and public involvement is advantageous. You will work collaboratively with partners in India and Nigeria and the UK. Experience of working with universities and stakeholders in overseas countries would be advantageous. You will need to have effective interpersonal skills to communicate with teams involved in the projects. You will be line managed by the Senior Research Fellow (Dr Sagar Jilka) but will also operate with a considerable degree of autonomy and initiative.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below.

PhD Status

If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£34,610 per annum). Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow , at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£35,608 per annum).

About The Department

The Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing focuses on applied research into development and transitions across the life span, early interventions, prevention of illness and promotion of wellbeing. The centre consists of a unique combination of experts in psychiatry, public health, cardiovascular health, psychology, social sciences and community paediatrics, interested in a life course approach. Research activities include epidemiology, trials of complex interventions at individual, family and community levels, and understanding socio-cultural and environmental determinants of mental health and wellbeing. Academic teams are internationally renowned for their impact on improving mental health and wellbeing across the life span, and in both clinical groups and the general population.

ISOBAR will implement and evaluate an evidence-based programme to prevent and/or delay the onset or progression of mental (anxiety, depression, psychosis) and nutritional disorders (malnutrition and obesity) in adolescents aged 12-18 years in India & Nigeria. We will build on our previous work in these countries, to implement a whole-school intervention focused on physical and mental health and well-being. The intervention will be contextualised for each study site to promote awareness, identify youth in distress and prevent the emergence of serious mental and nutritional disorders in adult life. Some of the specific objectives include, raising health literacy amongst staff and students; screening and detecting emerging mental and physical health problems and promote appropriate help-seeking; collaborating with specialist services to prevent progression and accumulation of disability and creating a sustainable pathway that links local educational, health and social care systems for improved access to care for those requiring specialist care. We will develop a hub-and-spoke model of trained school counsellors to provide mental health literacy, physical and mental health screening and appropriate support in three schools at each site using a ‘stepped-wedge’ paradigm in a total of nine schools and measure outcomes at the level of the school and the individual. Our project aims to develop an effective, affordable and sustainable composite intervention which would advance local and regional preventative health policies for internalizing, externalizing and nutritional disorders in adolescents, thereby encouraging the adoption of evidence-based interventions.

About The University

We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 106 th in the world and 8th in the UK. * Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent .** Find out more about us at warwick.ac.uk/about/. World University Ranking 2024, Guardian University Guide 2025 Research Excellence Framework 2021

How to Apply

CLOSING DEADLINE: Friday 30th January 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)

To apply, please click "Apply" below and submit an application form by the closing deadline. You will be asked to include a CV and a cover letter.

Your CV Should Include

• Your education and employment history (including your most recent employment).
• Any other relevant experience (e.g. volunteering, extracurricular, etc.).

Your Cover Letter Should Explain

• Your motivations for applying to the role.
• Using examples, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the job description (PDF attached below).

All essential criteria must be met by candidates who are invited to interview. You are welcome to include details of any career breaks (e.g. parental leave, caring responsibilities, sick leave).

Interview Date: 13th February 2026

Start Date: 1st March 2026

Please note application forms must be submitted before the stated deadline - you will not be able to submit after 23:55 (even if you opened the form earlier). Only applications submitted via our official careers portal (warwick-careers.tal.net) will be considered.

What we Offer

We Provide a Comprehensive Range Of Benefits, Including

• An attractive pension scheme.
• 30 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
• Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
• Onsite childcare facilities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements. For more information, see here.

We are proud to be a Living Wage employer.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion

Warwick is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and respectful community where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities, and actively encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Find out more about our Social Inclusion work at Warwick. Find out more about our awards and accreditations. We are also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.

Safeguarding & DBS

The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with. Roles involving regulated activity are subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at the appropriate level, in line with the DBS Code of Practice. The University will ensure that anyone subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group (children and/or adults). All employees, volunteers, and partners are expected to share our commitment to safeguarding.

Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders

The University will not discriminate against applicants who make a disclosure relating to a conviction. Disclosures at application stage are only visible to the DBS team, not to hiring panels. This ensures fairness and removes bias from the shortlisting process.

Job Description JD Research Fellow (111119).pdf – 212KB Opens in a new window

Right to Work in the UK

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.