King’s College London is one of the world’s leading universities, renowned for its commitment to education, research, and service to society. The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is Europe’s largest centre for research and education in mental health. This post will be based in the Health Service and Population Research Department within the School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences and affiliated with King’s Women’s Mental Health (KWMH)– a leading centre for research on violence, abuse, and mental health. The successful candidate will also be part of the King’s Qualitative Applied Health Research Centre (QUAHRC), a vibrant interdisciplinary hub dedicated to advancing rigorous and innovative qualitative research in health.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Participatory Research to join an exciting National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) project that investigates and seeks to enhance the mental wellbeing of survivors of coercive control. This unique study has been co-developed with the Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network’s (VAMHN) Lived Experience Action Group (LEAG) and aims to build a theoretical framework for recovery and wellbeing that will inform the design of future interventions and services.

 

The postholder will play a central role in supporting and training peer researchers, collecting and analysing qualitative data, and leading on the development of the theoretical framework. They will work closely with the wider project team to ensure that survivor perspectives shape the research process and outcomes, and will contribute to dissemination through academic publications, conferences, and non-academic outputs such as policy briefings and creative engagement.

 

The role will report to Dr Sharli Paphitis, Senior Research Fellow in Qualitative Methods, and will be embedded in a collaborative, supportive environment that values participatory and trauma-informed approaches. King’s Women’s Mental Health and VAMHN are committed to creating a workplace that prioritises wellbeing, offers flexibility, and actively welcomes applications from those with lived experience of violence, abuse, or mental health challenges.

 

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge, survivor-centred research with real-world impact, while developing your own academic skills and profile within a world-class research institution.

 

 

 

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.