The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research.
We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.
Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.
The role
We are looking for a motivated and collaborative researcher to join the Wellcome-funded Nurse Suicide Project. The risk of suicide in women nurses is 23% higher than women in other occupations but current research exploring suicidality in women nurses is limited. This ground-breaking and transformative project seeks to revision the ways in which nurse distress and suicidality are articulated and understood.
The project encompasses five individual studies looking at different elements of this topic. For more information about this project and team, visit our website
You’ll be working on study 5, which aims to understand how the experience of a workplace complaint or investigation impacts on the distress and suicidality of women registered nurses. The study will use a mixed methods approach including an on-line survey and narrative interviews. Ethical approval for the study is in place.
This is a full-time fixed-term post for 24 months, although we would consider part-time (0.8FTE) for the right candidate if preferred.
You’ll play a central role in delivery of the study, contributing across all stages of the research, including:
Survey and interviews
Coordinating survey distribution with nursing organisations across the UKSupporting recruitment of nurses for in-depth interviewsConducting interviews Undertaking thematic analysisSupporting statistical analysis of survey dataPPIE, dissemination, and team working
Liaising with the study nurse advisory groupContributing to funder reports, academic papers, conferences, and accessible summariesAbout you
We’re looking for someone who is thoughtful, curious, and committed to high-quality research that makes a difference to people’s lives. We value diverse backgrounds and career paths, and we particularly welcome applications from people who are underrepresented in health and social care research.
Essential experience and skills:
A postgraduate research degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline. We are happy to consider candidates who have submitted a doctoral thesis and are awaiting viva or outcomeExperience of qualitative research in health or social care settingsFamiliarity with qualitative analysis softwareQuantitative literacy, including managing survey data and conducting basic descriptive analysesStrong written and verbal communication skillsAwareness of research ethics and safeguarding when working with potentially distressed participantsExcellent organisational skillsA collaborative, reflective approach to teamworkFurther information
To apply, please submit the following:
A CV outlining your academic and relevant professional experienceA supporting statement explaining how you meet the essential criteria (see job profile below)For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Anna van der Gaag (a.vandergaag@surrey.ac.uk).
Online interviews will be held on 14th July.
Studies have shown that women and people from global majority backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. 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 with what is stated, we encourage you to apply or contact us to discuss.
Closing Date: 15 Jun 2026
Area: Research & Teaching
Salary: £37,694 to £46,049 per annum
Fixed Term until 19/07/2028