Research Fellow – Wellcome UK Social Media Restrictions

Overview

The University of Manchester invites applications for a Research Fellow to join the School of Environment, Education & Development within the Faculty of Humanities. This position is a full-time, fixed-term role lasting for 36 months, based on site at Oxford Road. The appointee will work on a Wellcome-funded project evaluating the impact of upcoming UK social media restrictions on the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Responsibilities include coordinating participant recruitment and data collection for interviews and ecological momentary assessment, performing qualitative and quantitative analyses, and preparing outputs such as peer-reviewed academic articles, evidence briefings, infographics, and blogs. The role also involves managing junior staff and coordinating communication with stakeholders and the steering committee.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a PhD in a relevant discipline such as psychology, public health, epidemiology, economics, or social sciences. Applicants are required to demonstrate skills in qualitative analysis or advanced quantitative analysis, proficiency in statistical software or qualitative software, experience managing research projects or substantial project workstreams, and experience supervising, managing, and supporting staff.

Desirable qualifications include previous experience working within or alongside government departments, policy-making bodies, or non-governmental organizations. Additional preference is given to candidates with experience in natural-experiment or quasi-experimental research, including causal inference methods such as interrupted time-series, difference-in-differences, or related study designs.

What you get

The salary for this position ranges from £47,389 to £51,753 per annum, depending on experience. Benefits include a generous employer contribution pension, 29 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas closure, a ride to work scheme, and an electric vehicle car scheme.

Key dates

Applications must be submitted by midnight on 12/11/2026.