Research Assistant, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Eating Disorders

Research Assistant, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Eating Disorders 

Job ID: 014026

Salary: £32,676 - £37,297 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance 

Posted: 22-Jan-2021

Closing date: 07-Feb-2021

Business unit: IoPPN

Department: Psychological Medicine

Contact details: Dr Hubertus Himmerich, hubertus.himmerich@kcl.ac.uk

Denmark Hill Campus   Research    

Job description
This is a full-time research post within the Research Theme “Obesity and learning from extreme phenotypes (OBELIX)” at the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) until 31st March 2022.
 
OBELIX is a theme that involves clinical researchers with experience in developing novel physical and psychological treatment interventions and working with research groups from genetics, basic neuroscience, nutrition and mental health. The OBELIX Research Theme is led by Prof Ulrike Schmidt. The post-holder will report to Dr Hubertus Himmerich. The OBELIX Theme Lead is Prof Ulrike Schmidt.

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Performing statistical analyses across studies on AN and obesity regarding inflammatory markers, growth factors, memory/hippocampus functions and body weight regulation.
• Performing an in-vitro study on the effects of serum from patients with AN, obesity and healthy controls on hippocampus cells.
• Helping with applications for new studies testing novel biomarkers such as cytokines, growth factors, neuroimaging and neurophysiological markers of the hippocampus.
• Helping with applications for studies testing new treatment approaches related to inflammation and hippocampus function.

The statistical analyses and help with applications will be performed under the supervision of Dr Hubertus Himmerich, the in-vitro study on hippocampus cells by Dr Sandrine Thuret. The job will involve recruiting participants, setting up data bases, entering data, performing data analyses, report and manuscript writing. This post will be based at the Section of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine at the Denmark Hill campus (Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience). 

Further members of the research team include Professor Janet Treasure, Professor Gerome Breen, Professor Iain Campbell, Dr Bethan Dalton, Ms Johanna Keeler (PhD student). 

This is a full-time post, a fixed-term contract until 31st March 2022. 

Key responsibilities

• Assist with the development of a strategy for optimising BRC resources within the theme and developing protocols for OBELIX related projects, work being conducted by colleagues contributing to the OBELIX theme and obtaining regulatory approvals for OBELIX projects
• Entering data, evaluating data
• Laboratory work (in-vitro study with hippocampus cells)
• Help with grant and ethics applications
• Report and manuscript writing 

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 

• Minimum 2:1 degree in Psychology or other relevant area
• Relevant research experience, e.g. conducting quantitative and qualitative research 
• Excellent computer and analytic skills
• Excellent statistical skills
• Scientific writing skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with service users and their families, health professionals and other researchers 
• Ability to network with other BRC researchers and clinical teams 
• Willingness to do wet laboratory work 

Desirable criteria 

• Experience with wet laboratory work 

Further information 

The post holder will:    

• Attend research meetings and research project management meetings
• Undertake any other duties, which may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and needs of the service
• Comply with Trust, University and relevant wider policies and standards 

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