Research Assistant in Nutritional Sciences

Job description

This fixed term post is for a nutritionist or dietitian (or other relevant science graduate with experience of working with human research studies). The role will involve recruiting to a large food intervention study in constipation, working closely with a postdoctoral researcher.  

The role will be an excellent opportunity to gain experience in human dietary research studies, working with an experienced and friendly research team. 

The post holder will assist in the day to day running of the project, including (but not necessarily limited to) preparing the food intervention, maintaining study documentation, co-ordinating subject correspondence, screening and recruitment of study participants, conducting face to face study visits, ensuring measurements of primary and secondary outcomes are conducted according to standard operating protocols, collecting and processing biological samples, and assisting with data entry.  

The post-holders will be based within the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the School of Life Course and Population Sciences (Waterloo campus) and will report to Professor Kevin Whelan. 

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract  until 31/12/2023. 

This is a part-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

•        Preparing the food intervention (e.g. weighing, packaging, sterilizing)  

•        Research administration (e.g. maintaining study documentation) 

•        Participant screening and recruitment of study participants (co-ordinating subject correspondence, conducting face to face study visits) 

•        Research outcome measurement (following standard operating protocols, collecting and processing biological samples, assisting with data entry).

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.      BSc or MSc in Nutrition, Dietetics (or a closely related science together with experience of human research studies) 

2.      Ability to work independently and as part of a team on a research project  

3.      Evidence of excellent organisational skills and attention to detail  

4.      Ability to take initiative to solve technical and logistical problems  

5.      Flexible approach to working (including travel, hours, locations)  

6.      Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias.  

Desirable criteria

7.      Experience of working on human clinical trials/dietary intervention studies  

8.      Experience of recruiting participants to a study 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to specifically address the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification in their covering letter. 

Further information

The School of Life Course & Population Sciences is one of five Schools that make up the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London. The School unites over 400 experts in women and children’s health, nutritional sciences, population health and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life’s landmark stages, treating life, disease and healthcare as a continuum. We are interdisciplinary by nature and this innovative approach works: 91 per cent of our research submitted to the Subjects Allied to Medicine (Pharmacy, Nutritional Sciences and Women's Health cluster) for REF was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We use this expertise to teach the next generation of health professionals and research scientists. Based across King’s Denmark Hill, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Waterloo campuses, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across five Departments. 

More information:   https://www.kcl.ac.uk/slcps