Research Assistant (Positions x2)

Job description This is an exciting opportunity to gain and develop research skills. The successful candidates will play a key role in innovative studies investigating new approaches to treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They will join Prof. Oliver Howes' research group. This is based at the Institute of Psychiatry and MRC LMS, two of the leading clinical research centres in the world. The studies involve the recruitment and collection of clinical, multimodal neuroimaging and other data in patients and controls. The projects include investigating the synaptic hypothesis of schizophrenia. The post-holder will have opportunities to get involved in data analysis and develop their research interests within the projects. Training in research methods will be provided, and the post-holder will develop skills in using gold-standard diagnostic and clinical ratings, which will be useful for future research and clinical practice. Working closely with the Lead Investigators, the successful candidate will ensure the successful conduct and completion of the research programme. They will contribute to the collection and analysis of data and play a key role in the assessment and monitoring of patients, which will constitute clinical sessions and may count towards training. They will also work closely with other research staff in the project and foster effective collaborative working relationships with the local early intervention services for psychosis. The successful candidate will also be encouraged to develop their own research interests. Up to two posts are available: 1 fulltime for 1 year (with potential to extend) 1 part-time (80% FTE) for 4 months (with potential to extend)

Key responsibilities The successful applicant will contribute to the successful conduct and completion of the research in the group. Your primary duties will be:

• To contribute to the identification, recruitment, and assessment of patients and relevant

• controls.

• To monitor and ensure the progress of case and control recruitment and to acquire data (including

• clinical and Neuroimaging data including the acquisition of PET, MRI, and MEG data).

• To monitor and ensure data quality and integrity.

• To oversee and contribute to, the development of a study database and data entry.

• To contribute to the administration of the study.

• To organise and oversee weekly case and control tracking meetings, and quarterly steering group

• meetings.

• To ensure an effective collaborative relationship with other research workers on the project, as well as

• with local clinical services and researchers on other related projects.

• To prepare progress reports and papers for publication, as required.

• To contribute to reports, and to the analysis data and the dissemination findings.

• To develop your own research interests.

• Other relevant activities as directed by the line manager

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. Skills, knowledge, and experience Essential criteria

• Degree level qualification or equivalent

• Higher degree in relevant area (eg MSc in relevant area, Psychiatric Research)

• Excellent administrative skills, strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), including excellent IT skills (Microsoft Office)

• Good working knowledge of data collection and management packages (Excel, SPSS)

• Good working knowledge of clinical governance

• Experience in clinical and imaging data acquisition and analysis including relevant rating scales in PANSS and MRI

• Experience of recruiting subjects into research studies in psychosis

• Experience of working with databases and analysing clinical data

• Attention to detail

• Good team player

• Ability to multi-task and work to deadlines

• Candidate must be able to travel across sites

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of psychosis research

• Experience of publications in psychosis

Further information The post would be ideal for a researcher who is interested in to gain and develop research skills in two of the leading clinical research centres in the world.