Research Associate


Company:	University of Sheffield
Salary:	Not specified
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Sheffield, S10 2TN
Job type:	Temporary
Posting date:	18 Sept 2026
Closing date:	14 Oct 2026

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Summary

University of Sheffield

Are you a current or recently-completed PhD researcher, with experience of using multilevel models, in particular “intersectional MAIHDA” to understand societal inequalities? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to work on a small, defined 3-month project related to the development and/or application of the MAIHDA method.

You will be working as part of the ESRC-funded project “Refining and embedding the Intersectional "MAIHDA" approach to intersectionality in quantitative social science research”. The role will allow you to collaborate with leading researchers working on the MAIHDA method worldwide, including Prof Andrew Bell (Sheffield), Prof George Leckie (Bristol), Dr Clare Evans (Oregon), Dr Will Johnson (Loughborough), and Dr Dan Holman (Bristol). This will allow you to develop your skills in using MAIHDA, produce an output that is valuable to the wider research community, and broaden your research network.

The exact project will depend on your own interests, but could include:

● Developing an extension of MAIHDA, e.g. incorporating MAIHDA with spatial methods

● Conducting simulation studies to test the performance of MAIHDA and related methods in particular circumstances

● Development of training resources, for instance an R Shiny app that helps researchers make good decisions when using the method, or high quality videos that showcase the MAIHDA approach

● Conducting a substantive project, using MAIHDA, ideally in a subject area where MAIHDA has been rarely used and that you are interested in.

You should specify an idea for what you would like to do in your application.

The ideal candidate would have experience of using the MAIHDA method, and a strong idea for a project that they would like to conduct and that would be feasible to complete in the 3-month timescale. It would be ideal for someone looking to take a 3-month secondment from their PhD, postdoctoral or research role, or who has recently submitted their PhD and is awaiting their viva.

You would work within the Sheffield Methods Institute, at the University of Sheffield, but could work closely with other project investigators across the country depending on the fit of your project. The project could be conducted remotely (with regular meetings with members of the research team) where appropriate.

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities,a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overall, this is a unique opportunity to work on a short project relating to the MAIHDA method, allowing you to develop your quantitative methods skills and experience, and gain an output that will be valuable to both you and the wider research community.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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