Research Assistant (ENHANCED project)

King's College London; London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job description

About Us

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is a leading centre for mental health and neuroscience research in Europe. Research from the IoPPN has made, and continues to make, an impact on how we understand, prevent and treat mental illness, neurological conditions and other conditions that affect the brain.

The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) is one of Europe’s largest research groups, bringing together leading experts in brain development and neurodiversity. We undertake basic sciences, translation, and applied clinical research to improve outcomes.

Working as part of a world-class academic team based in the FANS Department and with collaborators in other Universities and the third sector, the successful candidate will play a central role in the delivery of a high-profile and innovative research project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The ENHANCED research programme aims to harness the power of routinely collected electronic health data to improve healthcare delivery to people with a learning disability and autistic people. This involves using multiple linked data sources of primary, secondary, and social care, and investigating the use of reasonable adjustments to reduce healthcare inequalities, and a novel Machine Learning workstream to develop an intervention which may be implemented in routine clinical care.

About The Role

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Research Assistant who has an interest in and/or experience of research with people with neurodevelopmental conditions or clinical informatics using real-world electronic health data.

The Research Assistant will play a key role in the delivery and operational running of the ENHANCE research project. This includes:

1. Drafting project protocols, ethics applications, and data sharing agreements.
2. Coordinating study meetings between the research team and other stakeholders.
3. Data curation, management, and analysis, supported by a post-doctoral Research Associate and other members of the research team.

The Research Assistant will work closely with our Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Co-Investigators and people with lived experience of neurodevelopmental conditions and their carers to help shape the research and understand the ethical implications of our work.

The successful candidate will liaise regularly with our collaborators and research sites and will be required to have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The post-holder will be responsible to the project Principal Investigators, Professor Andre Strydom and Dr Rory Sheehan. The post-holder will be supported in their role by the wider research team and a post-doctoral Research Associate.

We will support academic career development, for example, in professional skills development through local Early Career Researcher Networks and the College’s wider training programme.

This is a full-time role (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31/03/28.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria

• A science or healthcare-related Bachelor’s degree (minimum 2:1).
• Demonstrated interest in working with people with neurodevelopmental conditions and/or in clinical informatics.
• Familiarity with statistical software packages, data management, and quantitative analysis techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills applied across a range of different contexts.
• An understanding of confidentiality and protocols for ethics and data management and protection.
• Highly organized and effective in time management and prioritization skills.
• Capable of working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary research team.
• Ability to show initiative and respond flexibly to research problems as they arise.

Desirable Criteria

• A science or healthcare-related Master’s degree.
• Experience of working with people with neurodevelopmental conditions and/or their carers and supporters, either in clinical or research settings.
• Scientific publications (journal publications or conference abstracts).
• Advanced skills in quantitative research methods.
• Evidence of project coordination.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. We are committed to working with our staff and unions, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.

Grade and Salary: £38,482 - £43,249 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 112645

Close Date: 23-Apr-2025

Contact Person: Dr Rory Sheehan

Contact Details: [e-mail]