Research Assistant, Psychological Medicine

Job ID: 020944

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

Posted: 19-Apr-2021

Closing date: 10-May-2021

Business unit: IoPPN

Department: Psychological Medicine

Contact details: Caroline Loveland, caroline.loveland@kcl.ac.uk 

Denmark Hill Campus   Research    

Job description
We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed research worker to take a key role in a new major study aiming to use markers of people’s speech to  improve diagnostic accuracy between different neuro/psychiatric diagnoses. This role will primarily involve recruiting participants with affective disorders (unipolar and bipolar depression) and neurodegenerative illnesses (different forms of dementia) and undertaking a range of assessments (diagnostic, clinical, speech) via videoconference. In addition, the postholder will support participants with the technological aspects of participation (e.g. smartphone application use) and completion of questionnaires via an online system.
 
This is an exciting study which will provide opportunities for developing skills in mood and neurological research. The postholder will be able to demonstrate a track record of recruiting participants to research, conducting assessments and undertaking careful data management tasks in the context of research.
 
The successful candidate will be managed by Professor Allan Young and join the vibrant and friendly Centre for Affective Disorders, which has a well-earned reputation for conducting world class clinical research in mood disorders.
 
This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 10 months.

This is a part-time post - 80% full time equivalent (4 days per week). 

Key responsibilities

• Identifying, screening and consent eligible individuals to participate in the research study  
• Administering a range of standardised clinical diagnostic and severity assessments  
• Conducting novel assessments of natural speech for machine learning analysis  
• Supporting participants through the research process 
• A range of data collection and entry in accordance with data protection guidelines and relevant study protocols
• Undertaking the necessary administration and organization for implementing the project, ensuring the successful conduct and completion of the study 
• Contributing, as required, to other activities or occasionally perform other general tasks within the team as they arise (those appropriate to the grade as directed by the project’s Chief Investigator or Study Coordinator). 

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

• Relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. BSc Psychology)
• Previous experience successfully recruiting participants to research studies
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills with the ability to convey research goals to lay people
• Ability to form strong relationships quickly and deal sensitively with research participants
• An understanding of data protection and patient confidentiality in addition to ethical and research governance guidelines
• High level organization skills
• Experience of data management and accurate record keeping, with attention to detail in all aspects of work
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Competent user of Microsoft packages including Word and Excel
• Ability to balance competing priorities under pressure of various deadlines
• Ability to manage own responsibilities independently whilst seeking senior support when appropriate

Desirable criteria

• Relevant postgraduate degree (e.g. MSc)
• Previous training or experience administering similar measures i.e. clinical assessments in mood disorders
• Previous experience in research at a clinical interface, working with participants who have mood or neurological illnesses
• Demonstrable experience of working to study recruitment targets
• In-depth knowledge of depression, bipolar disorder and/or dementia 

Further information
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to give a brief presentation about their relevant previous experience as an opportunity to showcase how the advertised position fits with their previous experience and future career objectives.
 
This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.