Research Assistant in School and Community Physical Activity
| Posting date: | 13 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,116 to £38,249 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Fixed Term till August 2029 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 27 March 2026 |
| Location: | Bradford, West Yorkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Bradford |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | HR0196001-2 |
Summary
University of Bradford
At the University of Bradford, our focus is on creating the conditions for social, cultural, and economic impact. We are committed to social inclusion. Our work to expand opportunity and enable students to reach their potential, has led to us topping the Social Mobility Index of English universities for the last four years. Our University Strategy sets out our ambitions for 2025, which we will achieve by using our proud heritage as a springboard and remaining steadfast in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Faculty/Directorate
The successful candidate will join the Applied Health and Wellbeing team in the Research Institute for Health and Social Care. You will work alongside a thriving community of physical activity researchers at the forefront of applied research in whole-school and whole-system physical activity for children and young people. Our research team works alongside other areas of excellence, such as the Mental Health Research Centre for children and young people. Showcasing our standing in the field, we organised the world’s first whole-school physical activity conference in 2024.
What you will be doing:
NIHR-funded post offering exceptional stability and developmental scope.
You will work closely with our partners at the Universities of Cambridge, York, Loughborough, and the Research Schools Network to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and implementation of Creating Active Schools in Bradford.
You will lead quantitative data collection and processing within the effectiveness work package and provide substantive support to qualitative research exploring long-term implementation and system change.
Qualifications/ experience:
A first degree (2-1 or higher) in a relevant discipline (physical activity, psychology, sociology etc.)
Experience of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
Working with one or all of the following: children, teachers, and school stakeholders
Do not meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description or advert, we encourage you to arrange an informal conversation with the hiring manager. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
In Return we Offer:
25 days holiday and 13 statutory and customary days (taken at Easter and Christmas).
Family-friendly policies
Great campus facilities including:
Unique fitness centre
Eye clinic
Physiotherapy & sports rehabilitation,
Counselling & mental health services
On site nursery
Food & drink outlets
Generous employer contribution pension schemes - Universities Superannuation Scheme
Generous benefit schemes, including car leasing, cycle to work, holiday purchase, home & technology scheme and shopping discounts
Find more information about the many other benefits, including salary sacrifice schemes and campus nursery.
Additional Information:
If you would like to find out more or are interested in applying, please message, email Dr Anna Chalkley (a.chalkley@bradford.ac.uk), we would love to hear from you.
At the University of Bradford, our focus is on creating the conditions for social, cultural, and economic impact. We are committed to social inclusion. Our work to expand opportunity and enable students to reach their potential, has led to us topping the Social Mobility Index of English universities for the last four years. Our University Strategy sets out our ambitions for 2025, which we will achieve by using our proud heritage as a springboard and remaining steadfast in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Faculty/Directorate
The successful candidate will join the Applied Health and Wellbeing team in the Research Institute for Health and Social Care. You will work alongside a thriving community of physical activity researchers at the forefront of applied research in whole-school and whole-system physical activity for children and young people. Our research team works alongside other areas of excellence, such as the Mental Health Research Centre for children and young people. Showcasing our standing in the field, we organised the world’s first whole-school physical activity conference in 2024.
What you will be doing:
NIHR-funded post offering exceptional stability and developmental scope.
You will work closely with our partners at the Universities of Cambridge, York, Loughborough, and the Research Schools Network to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and implementation of Creating Active Schools in Bradford.
You will lead quantitative data collection and processing within the effectiveness work package and provide substantive support to qualitative research exploring long-term implementation and system change.
Qualifications/ experience:
A first degree (2-1 or higher) in a relevant discipline (physical activity, psychology, sociology etc.)
Experience of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
Working with one or all of the following: children, teachers, and school stakeholders
Do not meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description or advert, we encourage you to arrange an informal conversation with the hiring manager. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
In Return we Offer:
25 days holiday and 13 statutory and customary days (taken at Easter and Christmas).
Family-friendly policies
Great campus facilities including:
Unique fitness centre
Eye clinic
Physiotherapy & sports rehabilitation,
Counselling & mental health services
On site nursery
Food & drink outlets
Generous employer contribution pension schemes - Universities Superannuation Scheme
Generous benefit schemes, including car leasing, cycle to work, holiday purchase, home & technology scheme and shopping discounts
Find more information about the many other benefits, including salary sacrifice schemes and campus nursery.
Additional Information:
If you would like to find out more or are interested in applying, please message, email Dr Anna Chalkley (a.chalkley@bradford.ac.uk), we would love to hear from you.