3 min read

CLOSED - Seeking two paid young person co-researchers

2023-10-03

  • Work as a lived experience consultant for around 2 days per month (flexible work pattern to be agreed) at £20 p/h

  • Applicants must be UK residents aged 16 - 21 years with right to work

  • Applicants must be based in London, UK (hybrid work required)

We are researchers from the Youth Resilience Unit at Queen Mary’s University, London, and the Development and Environment Research Group at King’s College London, and we are looking to recruit two youth co-researchers (aged 16-21 years) to contribute to research design in youth loneliness and dissemination of research findings.

We are committed to involving young people from diverse backgrounds in the production of our research to ensure that the research is relevant to young people and that the research findings are accessible and informative.

The youth co-researchers will work with our Research Fellow, Dr Kathryn Bates, based in the Department of Psychology at King’s College London. We need the expertise of an enthusiastic, young person who is interested in loneliness or mental health research and is looking to gain experience in research and science communication. You will contribute to the design of research projects investigating loneliness in marginalized young people. We are working with McPin charity, who specialises in supporting young people to contribute to mental health research, and you will receive training in research practices.

The hours (two days per month) can be worked flexibly depending on your other commitments, and we will agree as a team when and where to host our monthly meetings. We will sometimes meet in person at KCL or Queen Mary’s.

We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including people who identify as Black, Asian or from a global majority background, as well as people who identify as gender nonconforming. We also encourage applications from young people with lived experience of loneliness and/or mental health issues.

Responsibilities:

  • Contribute to research design and analysis and provide lived experience feedback and advice

  • Participate in steering group meetings (involving researchers, clinicians, young people) to set the goals of the project

  • Assist in creating and delivering a dissemination strategy

About you:

We’re looking for a young person (aged 16-21) with a demonstrable interest in youth mental health and/or loneliness and science communication. Research experience is not essential, please apply if you’re interested. You should be able to demonstrate the following: good communication and interpersonal skills, good time management skills, the ability to work cooperatively with team members and accept and use supervision and feedback effectively.

How to Apply:

Please email a CV and a short cover letter (max 1 page) outlining your interest (why you want to apply and the relevant experience you have) by 5 PM on Tuesday 17th October 2023 to kathryn.2.bates@kcl.ac.uk. Any queries or questions can also be directed to the same inbox.