Research Software Specialist (PSRC)

Salary: £35,116 - £37,174 per annum with progression to £45,413

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 May 2025

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Software Engineer (RSE) to join our team.  You will be responsible for delivering technical software engineering expertise and resources across projects relating to the use of digital technology in the delivery of health and care to patients. You will be expected to proactively collaborate with researchers, and external collaborators (e.g., Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospital Trust) supporting the use and development of relevant technologies and contribute software engineering skills into research projects. 

Research within this theme will focus on:
1)    exploring and optimising digital technologies used to provide integrated care to patients as they transition from a hospital stay back to their homes;
2)    developing innovative prototypes to improve patient safety as they transition from a hospital stay back to their homes. 

We have a particular interest in how health technologies can provide useful real-time data to support safe and effective care decisions and interventions. This is likely to include consideration of the potential of digital twin technology.

You will join a vibrant interdisciplinary team of researchers within the Newcastle NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC), based in our School of Pharmacy. This post is an appointment to the ‘Safer, effective, integrated health and social care environments’ theme. You will work closely with Prof Hamde Nazar, Prof Andy Husband and Dr Matthew Cooper and their research teams.  

This post is fixed term for a period of 1 year, but further funds are being sought to extend this.  

To apply for the position, we’ll need your CV and a cover letter outlining how you are suitable for the role using evidence to highlight how you meet the essential criteria in the knowledge, skills and experience as listed in the job description.

For informal enquiries contact: Prof Hamde Nazar (hamde.nazar@newcastle.ac.uk)

For informal enquiries about the Newcastle PSRC contact: Professor Andy Husband PSRC Director on andy.husband@newcastle.ac.uk

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

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

For more information about the School of Pharmacy, please visit:https://www.ncl.ac.uk/pharmacy/.

Key Accountabilities

• Although working under the general guidance of an academic or Principal Investigator, you will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial 'added value' 
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Actively participate in research funding bids by contributing technical expertise and appropriately scoped technical plans.
• Contribute to the writing up of research for publication and dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications.
• May be involved in the supervision, with guidance, of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or Research Assistants.
• Will need to work with the support staff and, on occasions, with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute and PSRC.
• To ensure compliance with secure handling of data.
• Responsible for supporting the delivery of software-related projects, helping to develop and support collaborating researchers by assisting through the use of technical skills.
• Contribute to the selection and use of software and data infrastructure, including technologies for version control, continuous integration, deployment and code review.
• Suggest and help implement novel, explainable and innovative interventions to prioritise high-risk patients and optimise clinical care pathway development. 
• Work in collaboration with and support an integrated approach to and engagement with the Public and Patient involvement leads.
• Present work and provide updates, including the effective communication of complex or technical information, at project meetings and events.
• Provide training and support for team members and researchers to ensure effective use of relevant technologies.
• Undertake relevant training and development activities in order to develop an awareness of own professional development needs.
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required.

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

Essential

• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
• Advanced skills directly related to the research projects 
• High level of analytical and problem-solving capability 
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others 
• Experience of research with clear transferable skills and some experience or awareness of the research environment 
• Experience or taught knowledge in one or more areas of Software Engineering. Including, but not limited to; Cloud Computing, Visualization, Web Applications, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence.
• Software development experience in a research or commercial environment
• Understanding of software development tools and methodologies, including programming languages, documentation, testing, version control, issue tracking, and continuous integration
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills and experience

Desirable

• Experience of deployment of software solutions
• Track record of developing software that is used by others 

Attributes and Behaviour

Delivering Services

• Works continually towards achieving success through understanding and meeting or exceeding the expectations of project collaborators, the University, students, colleagues and other stakeholders. Is enthusiastic in getting the job done on time and demonstrates high energy and commitment to the delivery of excellent service.

Finding Solutions

• Generates a range of viable options and decides on an appropriate course of action that best fits organisational and area goals. Encourages creative and innovative thinking in self and others and makes decisions based on understanding the wider organisational needs and having considered a range of possible options.

Team Working

• Operates in a number of different teams and groups across the organisation, confident in adopting a range of team roles. Looks at ways of developing cross functional co-operation and support and looks to build alliances and relationships outside of the group.

Understanding Others

• Understands individual or group motives, understands the culture of a particular area, school or faculty. Is able to quickly and effectively learn the methods and language used within other groups.

Planning and Organising

• Works in a planned and structured way, uses own and others’ time effectively. Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives. Quickly identifies what is important and prioritises accordingly whilst monitoring and controlling work flow of teams.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in relevant subject

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 silver  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: 27945