SOM Research Assistant: Systematic Review of Disaster Responders

SOM Research Assistant: A Systematic Review of Disaster Responders

2.5 days a week – 1 year contract, £26k pro rata

Contribute to a new Project “Protecting the Psychological Safety of Disaster and First Responders:
An International Living Systematic Review”, funded by the Lloyds Register Foundation.

Line Manager: Dr Sahra Tekin, Work, Safety, and Health Intelligence Centre (WSHIC) Manager & Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Job Role: To support an international systematic review of psychological safety, mental health, and occupational wellbeing of disaster and emergency responders. Working closely with the project lead Dr Sahra Tekin, and the SOM team, the role will contribute to all stages of the review process, including literature searching, screening process, data extraction, quality appraisal/risk of bias, and analysis. It will include working with a large and diverse international evidence base across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed‑methods study designs.

The post holder will also contribute to other SOM research related activities.

• Conduct systematic literature searches across multiple databases using pre-specified search strategies and eligibility criteria under supervision
• Complete the title/abstract (50% of the included studies) and full‑text screening in accordance with PRISMA guidelines
• Support the duplicate screening process in collaboration with the research team
• Support the data extraction process
• Complete the quality appraisals and risk of bias assessments of the included studies by using appropriate tools (e.g. CASP, AXIS, RoB‑2…)
• Contribute to the analysis process (e.g. narrative analysis, meta‑synthesis, and meta‑analysis)
• Maintain accurate and transparent documentation of the review process in line with open science and research governance standards
• Assist with preparation of tables, figures, reports, and manuscripts for peer‑reviewed publications
• Participate in research meetings and provide regular progress updates
• Carry out other SOM related research activities as required

• Hold a MSc, or higher, degree in psychology, public health, epidemiology, mental health, or a related discipline
• Knowledge of mental health research
• Experience conducting a systematic review (including screening process, data extraction, familiarity with critical appraisal of research quality using standard tools, and narrative analysis)
• Excellent organisational and communication skills, including the ability to write academic texts, present findings at conferences, and represent the team at meetings
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research team

• Experience contributing to a published, peer‑reviewed systematic review
• Experience of research involving occupational trauma, first responders, disaster responders, or other high‑risk occupational groups
• Knowledge of trauma‑related concepts (e.g. PTSD, moral injury, resilience, post‑traumatic growth)