Postdoctoral Research Fellow
This Wellcome Trust funded part-time (0.5 FTE) post is available from 5 January 2027 on a fixed term basis until 31 Dec 2029.
This post is offered as a fixed term contract and is funded by the Wellcome Trust until 31 December 2029.
In line with the University’s fair employment for all principles, any further funding opportunities identified will be reviewed and discussed during the contract.
Salary will be £44,352 (pro rata) per annum on Grade F subject to knowledge, skills and experience.
We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly from those with lived or professional experience of global majority contexts. We are happy to discuss flexible working.
The Role
The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences wishes to recruit a part-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join PHOENix (Planetary Health Optimisation for Enhancing Nutrition and Food Security Through School Feeding Programmes in Egypt). PHOENix is a five-year programme funded by a Wellcome Early-Career Award and led by Dr Fatma Sabet.
PHOENix asks how Egypt's school feeding programmes work, for whom and in what circumstances. It then works with communities to co-produce school meals that are nutritious, culturally relevant, affordable and within planetary boundaries. The project uses a realist review, a realist evaluation of school feeding case studies, and agroecological co-production with farmers, cooks, parents, teachers and pupils. Co-production and creative methods are central, including photo-essay, murals and Playback Theatre.
You will be the UK-based research fellow on the team. You will:
- lead day-to-day research on realist evaluation, combining qualitative interviews with nutritional, environmental and agroecological data
- coordinate and support a team of researchers across the UK and Egypt, working closely with an Egypt-based postdoctoral researcher and fieldwork technicians
- organise meetings of the project's advisory and participatory groups, and work with partners in Egypt
- lead ethics applications and approvals for research and fieldwork with children and other groups
- help design and run participatory and creative co-production activities
- write and publish academic papers, present at conferences and contribute to funding proposals that build on PHOENix
The post requires travel to Egypt at least once during the project.
About You
The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in public health, nutrition, food systems, social science or a related field. You will want to use your research skills to understand and help solve real-world problems, working in an interdisciplinary team. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in insert subject area and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required.
What we offer
This is a chance to develop as an independent researcher on a project with a clear research strategy and a social justice purpose. You will:
- join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team that spans the UK and Egypt, with researchers, community partners, policymakers and artists
- design and apply mixed-methods and participatory approaches to a pressing policy challenge in food and nutrition equity
- coauthor publications from each stage of the project, and present at national and international conferences
- gain experience of writing research funding proposals, with support to develop your own ideas
- build a network across the University of Exeter, the South West and international partners, including the School Meals Coalition and WFP
- receive mentoring and training, including in realist, participatory and creative methods
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
Further information
For informal enquiries, contact Dr Fatma Sabet, Wellcome Early-Career Award holder and PHOENix lead, at F.Sabet2@exeter.ac.uk.
About Us
Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future
Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russell Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.
We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.
You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
What we can offer you:
- Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
- Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
- An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
- Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
- A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy;
- A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon/Cornwall.
How we can help
If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at hrhelpdesk@exeter.ac.uk. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.
