Research Internship (Social Research)

Job Level Internship

Location Hybrid with majority working from home

Hours Negotiable and can vary between 21 and 35 hours per week

Start Date As soon as possible, ideally starting in August 2025

Contract 3 months (with possible extension)

Background

Lepra is dedicated to addressing leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF) and their consequences through direct support, advocacy, and the promotion of inclusive communities. We work in Bangladesh and in India, through our sister organisation, LEPRA Society. We work in partnership with people affected by leprosy and LF to improve detection, ensure access to treatment and care, and promote inclusion and wellbeing. Last year we finalised our new Global Strategy for 2024-30, which will guide us in our efforts to accelerate progress towards global targets for leprosy and LF, and towards our vision of a world free from leprosy and LF.

Job Context

Lepra UK is seeking to expand impactful social research, and the research internship was created to assist with moving forward some key research pieces during the summer 2025. As Research Intern, you will work alongside the Head of Research and a team of research volunteers to complete a systematic evidence review on the experience of children affected by leprosy of stigma, discrimination and mental health responses. You will support the review with screening of articles, data extraction, verification, coding, synthesis and quality assessment. You will join the team two months into the project, taking on various roles to assist with the completion of this project. You will also help with conducting a literature review on the socio-cultural reasons for (non)adherence in multi-drug therapy treatment (MDT). Other tasks will be assigned as they emerge. Your work will provide valuable insight into under-researched fields and will contribute to evidence-based publications, recommendations and programming.

Working Relationships

• Reports to Head of Research in the Programmes and Advocacy Department
• Works as part of a research team in the Programmes and Advocacy Department

Person Specification

Essential

• Current or recent post-graduate in a relevant MSc/PhD programme (or otherwise affiliated to an academic institution)
• Passion for social causes and global health with high levels of intrinsic motivation/drive
• A desire to excel in high quality outputs with superb attention to detail
• A desire to contribute to published outputs as co-author, with the relevant analytical skills
• Previous experience of literature reviews and/or systematic reviews (Prisma)
• Advanced knowledge of referencing mangers, such as EndNote
• Advanced experience of using Excel spreadsheets for data management

Desirable

• Some understanding of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and/or leprosy
• Prior understanding of stigma/discrimination/mental health in NTDs or other contexts
• Experience of qualitative research (including facilitation skills and data analysis)
• Reading knowledge of Portuguese would be an added advantage given the requirements within the team

Key Responsibilities

1. Research assistance in systematic review: data extraction, verification and synthesis

• Assist with screening of academic articles and relevant literature.
• Extract, verify, and code data according to pre-established criteria.
• Organise and synthesise findings in Excel.
• Implement colour-coded classification of themes within PDF documents in an EndNote library.
• Use CASP checklists to assess the quality of included articles.
• Support the writing of specific sections for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
• Ensure quality control and consistency in data handling and documentation.

2. Research citation management

• Take responsibility for managing a research library in EndNote, updating references and formatting outputs in line with Lancet/Vancouver style

3. Research assistance in new literature review

• Assist with conducting a comprehensive literature review.
• Search academic databases and grey literature for evidence on complex factors for MDT (multi-drug therapy) (non-)adherence.
• Capture both barriers and enablers including the following categories: social, cultural, emotional, clinical/reactions, systemic/health system, disease knowledge.
• Assist with writing up findings for publication in peer-reviewed journal.

4. Any other tasks as they emerge, potentially involving other written outputs

All contributions to published outputs on the required level of quality and depth will lead to
co-authorship.

Please submit your CV and a maximum one page long Cover Letter, specifying the following in one paragraph each: DD1

1) How you meet the essential criteria.

2) How you meet the desirable criteria.

3) Explain your personal circumstances and preferences (such as preferred start date and availability in terms of length of internship and weekly hours). Include a sentence on how this internship will help you with your career goals.

We offer a lot of flexibility in working practices and there is free reserved parking available when visiting our Colchester office. We also offer 26 days annual leave plus public holidays (pro-rated).

Please check your email inbox and spam/junk mail folder for any email correspondence for this vacancy.

If you require any reasonable considerations such as access or information in an alternative format, please inform us soon as you are able so that we can make the appropriate adjustments.