Research Assistant

Overview

Queen's University Belfast, through the School of Biological Sciences, offers a full-time, fixed-term research assistant position based in the United Kingdom. The role is part of the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, which runs an ambitious research programme spanning plant science, nutrition, and public health across Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. The initiative aims to accelerate transitions toward an environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and transparent agri-food system that supports healthy diets from sustainable sources.

The appointed candidate will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including post-doctoral researchers and fellow research assistants, to deliver a longitudinal household study and an intervention trial. Responsibilities include participant recruitment and the collection of data covering dietary, lifestyle, biological, and functional health outcomes across the Island of Ireland. This position provides opportunities to gain research experience, receive mentorship, and engage with the wider co-centre research network to develop nutrition-related research skills.

Requirements

Applicants must hold an MSc, a PhD, or a BSc with an honors classification of 2:1 or higher alongside recent relevant experience in nutrition or a related discipline, while a qualification in dietetics serves as a distinct advantage. Candidates are required to have practical experience working on human research studies, such as population-based studies, nutrition interventions, or clinical trials.

Essential qualifications further include experience collecting data on dietary, lifestyle, biological, and functional health outcomes, as well as managing data entry with strong attention to detail. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in creating, managing, and summarizing complex databases, alongside the ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team and directly with research participants.

What you get

The position provides a salary ranging from £36,366 to £41,727 per annum. Selected individuals will also benefit from structured opportunities to develop their research expertise, access professional research mentoring, and connect with the broader co-centre research network.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2026-11-09.