Postdoctoral Research Fellow
This full-time post is available from 1st October 2026 for 12 months.
This post is offered as a fixed term contract and is funded by NIHR until 30 September 2027.
If further funding may be available but not guaranteed or known at the offset, the following can be included in the advert: In line with the University’s fair employment for all principles, any further funding opportunities identified will be reviewed and discussed during the contract.
The starting salary will be from £43,482 to £46,049 on Grade F, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.
Please note that this role is subject to a DBS check. At the University of Exeter, we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff to share this commitment.
The Role
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
This post will support the final year of the NIHR-funded ATTEND Programme Grant, with a particular focus on leading the analysis, interpretation and publication of findings from the implementation work package. The role will be central to ensuring that the programme delivers high-quality, impactful outputs that inform the future implementation and scale-up of the intervention. Given the advanced stage of the programme and the emphasis on timely dissemination, applicants must demonstrate a strong track record of producing high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. The postholder may also be required to contribute to activities across the programme’s other four work packages.
About ATTEND
ATTEND is a four-year NIHR Programme Grant led by Professor Tamsin Ford and Dr Patrick Smith. The programme is evaluating whether a novel intervention, Mindfulness for Adolescents and Carers (MAC), can improve recovery outcomes for young people aged 15–18 years with depression who have not fully responded to first-line treatment or who have experienced relapse.
While Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is recommended by NICE for preventing depressive relapse in adults, there is currently insufficient evidence regarding its effectiveness in adolescents. ATTEND has adapted MBCT specifically for young people with depression and is evaluating the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and implementation potential of MAC using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial design.
The programme comprises five interconnected work packages:
WP1: Development and delivery of a training package for CAMHS professionals.
WP2: Design and evaluation of a digital app to support and measure mindfulness practice.
WP3: Delivery of a multi-site randomised controlled trial.
WP4: Examination of theoretically derived moderators and mediators of treatment outcomes.
WP5: Development of an implementation strategy to support future adoption and delivery.
The successful candidate will play a key role within WP5, applying implementation science theories, models and frameworks to analyse study findings and develop evidence-based recommendations for the future rollout and sustainability of MAC should it prove effective.
The postholder will join the Children and Young People's Mental Health (ChYMe) Research Collaboration, a large multidisciplinary team committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people through world-leading research. Further information about ChYMe can be found at: http://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/research/healthresearch/childhealth/chyme/.
About You
The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in the subject area and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
Further information
Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future
Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russel Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.
We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.
You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
What we can offer you:
- Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
- Support teams that understand the University wide 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 supports 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/Cornwall.
How we can help
If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at
[email protected]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.
