Clinical Research Associate in the Department of Psychosis Studies

About us

The Department of Psychosis Studies is the world's leading department for research into psychotic disorders by high impact publications. It is part of the IoPPN; the largest academic community in Europe devoted to the study and prevention of mental illness and brain disease. The IoPPN produces more highly cited outputs (top 1% citations) on psychiatry and mental health than any other centre (SciVal 2021). The IoPPN's greatest strength is the interdisciplinary nature of both its research strategy and educational activities, providing unique opportunities for students and staff.

About the role

The postholder will join exciting new studies in the group. These include testing the synaptic hypothesis of psychosis and the role of excitation-inhibition balance in psychotic disorders and testing how the first non-D2 antipsychotics work. The studies involve in vivo imaging with cutting edge PET and fMRI techniques and clinical trials.

The postholders will be responsible for recruitment and clinical assessment of participants with psychosis, including clinical rating scales and delivering a high level of care to research participants. They will be responsible for organising and acquiring imaging and other measures and producing scoping literature reviews.

The postholders will be responsible for ensuring high quality research governance across projects, helping to analyse, interpret and publish the results of projects, as well as helping to support students who will be working on the projects.

The postholders will be responsible for maintaining accurate records within a database that can be shared with members of the wider research team. They are also responsible for organising and overseeing weekly case and control tracking meetings, as well as quarterly steering group meetings.

The postholders will be responsible for ensuring effective collaborative relationships with other research worders on the project, as well as with local clinical services and researchers on other related projects.

The postholders will be responsible for contributing to knowledge exchange and dissemination activities such as organising and participating in scientific meetings and to support all other aspects of the projects as required. There will also be opportunities to get clinical experience.

This is a full time (40 hours per week) however the department can consider part-time applications. You will be offered a fixed term contract for 1 year ( with the potential to extend/ develop a PhD; subject to funding).

Research staff at King's are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers , applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About you

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

Essential criteria

• Full GMC registration with valid license to practice (candidates without this will not be considered further)
• Experience of assessing patients with psychotic disorders in UK or similar healthcare settings
• Strong academic trajectory as evidenced by performance in A-levels (or equivalent), undergraduate and/or post-graduate education in the top rank, prizes or other relevant indicators
• Ambitious, enthusiastic, responsible, flexible and able to work independently to deadlines
• Ability to work in a team with excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to critically appraise scientific literature and develop research ideas
• Knowledge and experience of using databases and other relevant software (e.g. statistical software)
• Evidence of strong interest and aptitude for research, particularly in a relevant area (e.g. psychopharmacology, neuroimaging, psychosis)

Desirable criteria

• Training and/or experience with relevant psychiatric rating and/or neuroimaging measures
• Experience of acquisition and analysis of relevant neuroimaging data (e.g. PET, MRI, EEG, MEG)
• Experience of working with patients with psychosis in research or other relevant settings
• Knowledge of drug treatments in psychosis particularly in psychosis
• Publications and/or conference abstracts in relevant area (such as psychiatry/ psychopharmacology)

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

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 on these and other issues, 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.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearances.