Job description 

We are seeking to appoint a researcher with a keen interest in neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental disorders for an exciting role providing research support on a study investigating the co-occurrence of epilepsy and autism. The successful applicant will join a multinational research collaboration, Autism Innovative Medicine Studies-2-Trials (AIMS-2-Trials), funded by the EU Innovative Medicines Initiative. The budget for this project totals €117 million. The post holder will be responsible for recruitment of participants, image data collection and behavioural testing. This role is a unique opportunity to work between two departments innovating the use of brain network analysis, MRI and EEG in clinical neuroscience. There is also an opportunity to develop research skills in any or all of these techniques being. The postholder will become a member of the departments of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences (Academic Psychiatry) & Basic and Clinical Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London. They will be based in the Sackler Centre for Translational Neurodevelopment and the state-of-the-art Maurice Wohl Clinical Neurosciences Institute on the Denmark Hill campus, and may have duties throughout the campuses and hospitals of King’s College London and King’s Health Partners. The successful candidate will join a team working on biomarkers and stratification markers in autism, particularly in relation to active epilepsy and future risk of epilepsy. The post will involve recruitment and data collection of older children and adults with and without autism and epilepsy. The successful applicant would also have the opportunity to train in analysis of cognitive, EEG and Magnetic Resonance Imaging data. Familiarity with clinical epilepsy or autism and experience in collecting cognitive, EEG or neuroimaging data in patient groups would also be an advantage.

Contract type

Please complete as

appropriate This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 18 months This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• In depth involvement in recruiting appropriate participants for research studies, organizing research visits of participants and their families. 

• To perform behavioural and cognitive testing and facilitate neuroimaging investigations.

• To support the collection of neuroimaging (MRI, EEG) and biomarker samples (e.g. saliva).

• To keep a good relationship with participants and their families. To interact with line managers and colleagues, to ensure optimal coordination of data collection and analysis with other groups within the AIMS2 consortium. To communicate between agencies and collaborators to ensure progress  

• Conduct accurate data entry, data quality checks and data analysis as needed.

• To prepare internal reports and manuscript for publication, as required

• To ensure compliance at all times with all required data privacy and research governance protocol

• The post holder will be expected to work independently and flexibly in planning day to day activities in accordance with the project deadlines.

• To undertake any other duties, which may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the needs of the study, such as minute taking and sending out information sheets.

• To manage and co-ordinate clinical trials within the department, ensuring that milestones and deliverables are on time

• To co-ordinate the smooth running of work assigned to the staff involved with the relevant studies

• Demonstrate an understanding of technical and complex information in order to convey (in both written and oral form) information in a clear and effective manner to all groups, internal and external, involved in the Projects

• Write and maintain documentation in support of the Projects eg. amendments

• To liaise with KCL colleagues across the College on any matters relating to the project 

• Write, maintain, and distribute reports as required to support the requirement of the projects.  Give presentations of progress and updates during group meetings.

• To collate all relevant reporting information as well as other information being made available during the life of the projects and disseminate it to the relevant bodies. 

• Keep up to date with new regulatory issues  

• (if desired by the applicant), the successful applicant could develop their methodological and statistical skills through analysis of existing datasets.

• Carry out tasks that require the learning of certain skills 

• Required to be aware of the risks in the work environment

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  

1. Undergraduate or masters degree in Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology, Medicine or other relevant subjects   

2. Research experience in a related discipline or in collecting and recruiting for research  

3. Familiarity with epilepsy and autism  

4. Excellent written skills, excellent skills in presentation, excellent communications skills   

5. Ability to work to own initiatives as well as being part of a team and prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines and targets  

6. Good time management skills, and ability to plan, prioritise and problem solve  

7. Experience with data collection in human participants  

8. Ability to work independently and to deadlines, and ability to show good judgement and common sense  

9. Ability to work flexibly as required  

Desirable criteria  

1. Knowledge and experience of administering of standardized cognitive or behavioural assessments   

2. Experience of performing research studies   

3. Programming and scripting experience in a modern statistical package and experience in collection MRI or EEG  

4. Experience of co-ordinating research projects and knowledge of regulations for handling confidential data  

5. Experience of research with individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders  

6. Experience of conference presentations or publications commensurate with level of career  

Further information

Training will be provided as needed to familiarize the successful candidate with their duties.  

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