Research Fellowship Programme

The Research Fellowship Programme supports employees across Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council who want to play a role in improving health outcomes to build their research and analytical skills by carrying out research.

As a research fellow, you will be given the freedom, time and support to spend one day a week for up to a year pursuing research projects to help us all better understand how we can shape policies and services to improve health outcomes.

You may choose to support an existing HDRC research project or develop a research project of your own. Whichever you choose, you will benefit from mentorship from a senior University of Essex or Anglia Ruskin University academic or an HDRC researcher.

While individual responsibilities will vary, research projects will typically include:

  • Stakeholder engagement 
  • Qualitative and quantitative research e.g. literature reviews, surveys, interviews and focus groups
  • Public involvement
  • Sharing findings

You do not need to be a research professional but you will be in a position to share your learning and positively influence research practice in your organisation. To this end, leads in their service or practice area are particularly encouraged to apply.

Apply

What does the Research Fellowship Programme offer?

  • An honorary fellowship with the University of Essex or Anglia Ruskin University and access to university resources
  • Mentorship from a senior University of Essex or Anglia Ruskin University academic or an HDRC researcher
  • Leadership support from the Directors of Public Health in Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council
  • A peer support network of research fellows
  • Reflective sessions
  • Access to high quality professional development and networking opportunities

Eligibility

The Research Fellowship Programme is for you if:

  • You work for Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council or Thurrock Council and want to play a role in improving health outcomes in Greater Essex through research
  • You can commit to working with the HDRC Greater Essex team one day per week for up to a year
  • You have line manager support
  • You have subject expertise in an area related to our research themes (economic factors affecting health, educational factors affecting health, environmental factors affecting health and vulnerabilities affecting health)
  • You are a service leader, ‘practice lead’ or other service expert in a position to share your learning and positively influence research practice on your return to your substantive role
  • You want to build your research and analytical skills and support local authorities to make better, evidence-informed decisions
  • You enjoy working collaboratively, you are open to new perspectives and keen to share your knowledge, skills and experience with others
  • You share HDRC Greater Essex’s ambitions to improve the way in which local authorities carry out and use research to support decision-making and want to play a role in embedding evidence-based culture in local government

You will be invited to demonstrate how you meet this criteria in your application.

Please note salary information will be requested to enable us to calculate backfill costs. Backfill costs will be capped at a maximum salary of £75k per annum (FTE). Applicants on a higher salary will require agreement from their line manager for the re-charge to be capped at this rate.

Application and assessment

Applicants are asked to submit an application form before midnight on Monday 30 June 2025. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to join us for a conversation to discuss the opportunity in more detail in July. Final offers will be made in August.

Information sessions

Join our informal online drop-in session on Tuesday 17 June 2025 10:00-10:45 to find out more and ask any questions.

Join the drop-in

Contact

For further information or if you have any questions, please contact the HDRC team at HDRC@essex.gov.uk.