Research Assistant in Human Nutrition

Salary: £33,951 per annum pro rata 

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 14 July 2026

The Role

We are excited to launch this new opportunity for a Research Assistant in Human Nutrition to join us in the Human Nutrition & Exercise Research Centre, Population Health Sciences Institute, at Newcastle University.

You will be joining a dynamic, supportive and ambitious research group based in the Newcastle University Medical School, led by Dr. Oliver Shannon.

The project is funded by the BBSRC i-NutriLife hub and is exploring the impact of GLP-1 medications (used to treat obesity) on micronutrient status. It will also be exploring user attitudes towards addressing micronutrient deficiencies via vitamin- and mineral-fortified foods.

You will be involved in synthesising current knowledge on this topic via a systematic review and carrying out a large-scale survey underpinned by relevant behaviour change theory. You will work closely with an industry partner and will provide them with regular updates on progress and help produce a report at the end of the project. You will also be involved in writing manuscripts to submit for peer-reviewed publication. As well as working with colleagues at Newcastle University, you will collaborate with external investigators on this project at Leeds Beckett University (Dr. Alex Griffiths and Dr. Jamie Matu) and with an industry partner.

We are looking for someone with an undergraduate degree, and ideally Master’s degree, in Human Nutrition or a related discipline. You will have experience designing and administering surveys via online platforms (e.g., Online Surveys) to patients and members of the public. You will also have good experience with data handling and analysis, using packages such as R, Stata or SPSS. The ideal candidate will also have experience working with industry partners, writing reports, and publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

We follow the Researcher Development Concordat: Researcher Development | Our Research | Newcastle University. We enable all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This commitment secures our thriving research culture and vibrant research environment. Our offer to each individual and their researcher development includes mentoring, annual research planning discussions, pooled research funding to support career development and research activities, peer review support for the development of research and innovation funding applications.

We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you’d like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact Dr. Oliver Shannon (Oliver.Shannon@Newcastle.ac.uk) We are committed to making the process accessible to everyone and can provide additional support to adjustments to meet your needs

Please apply via the Newcastle University online application system and include a copy of your CV and a cover letter outlining how you address the key requirements for this role.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf. 

 These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/

Find out more about our Research Institutes: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/population-health/

This is a part-time (2.5 days/week). Duration of post is 9 months (project end date: 31 May 2027)

Key Accountabilities

• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate
• Contribute towards a systematic review on micronutrient deficiencies in GLP-1 medication users
• Develop an online survey, grounded in appropriate behaviour change theory (e.g., COM-B model, Behaviour Change Wheel), and administer this to a cohort of GLP-1 medication users
• Handle quantitative data and conducting statistical analyses using packages such as R, Stata or SPSS

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of administering online, theory-informed (e.g., COM-B model) surveys to patients or members of the public
• Strong statistical analysis skills using software such as R, Stata or SPSS, including familiarity with tests such as chi squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

• Honours degree in Human Nutrition, Dietetics, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, Physiology, Sport & Exercise Science or a related discipline

Desirable

• Master’s degree in one of the above areas

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29501