Research Assistant at the Department of Psychological Medicine

Job description

This is an opportunity to join a multidisciplinary Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital Charity-funded study that aims to investigate the efficacy of a psychophysiological intervention, called Balance-ACT, for long COVID, in the context of a randomised controlled trial.  

The research assistant will carry help with all aspects of trial management including recruiting patients to the trial and carrying out psychological and physical assessments. 

The successful candidate will join a team of clinicians and scientists working across the spectrum of physical and mental health under the supervision of Professors Trudie Chalder and Nick Hart; and Dr Caroline Jolley. The work will be conducted in the Department of Psychological Medicine with strong links to the Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences laboratories in the King’s College Hospital Department of Respiratory Medicine; and Respiratory Medicine at St Thomas’. 

The postholder will work closely with clinical colleagues in the community and hospital-based long COVID services across King’s Health Partners. The post holder will receive training and supervision from a range of experts. 

There are two positions available:

1 x full-time 

1 x part-time (60%FTE)

Both posts will be offered on a fixed term contract for 1 year.

Key responsibilities

• Qualitative interviews with patients and healthcare professionals.  
• Develop skills in accessing data from wearables. 
• Help with physiological testing within the randomised controlled trial.    
• Obtain relevant project approvals  - ethics / HRA / R&D. 
• Prepare project documents including assessment packs and participant letters. 
• Assist in the management of electronic data files and original data including data entry.  
• Maintain excellent working relationships with the wider research team and CTU 
• Develop close working relationships with physicians in the different clinics across KHP.   
• Adhere to ethical procedures (including obtaining informed consent from participants)  
• Help co-ordinate aspects of the study so that all approvals and assessments are ready for the start of a RCT in year 2.  
• Develop trial documentation and master file.   
• Assist in the preparation of treatment manuals and information sheets for patients and staff.  
• Help with recruitment and screening in the different clinics.   
• Help with trial assessment procedures. 
• To comply with the King’s College London Health and Safety regulations and policies, good laboratory practice, GDPR and GCP. To work in accordance with our partner NHS Trust policies (King’s College Hospital & Guy’s & St Thomas’). To be aware of and work within the guidelines for biomedical research set out in the Declaration of Helsinki.  
• To work to Good Clinical Practice Guidelines. 
• To take responsibility for personal professional development 
• Carry out the research project with appropriate supervision to an agreed timeline 
• Attend and, as appropriate, present research findings at internal meetings and external conferences. 
• Assist in write up of papers and relevant data analysis and where appropriate lead on papers. 
• Any other duties appropriate to the grade as directed by the supervisors. 

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.       MSc in health psychology (or a related area) 

2.       Knowledge of qualitative methodologies 

3.       Experience of research  

4.       Good communication skills (written and verbal) 

5.       Some knowledge of regulatory processes such as IRAS applications 

6.       Ability to problem solve 

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience of research and of working in a healthcare setting.  

2.       Knowledge of wearables and possible ways of extracting data  

Further information

Applicants will be required to present on planning their work and the potential challenges of the role.  

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