Overview
Clinical Research Fellow – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
About us
The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s is ranked second in the world for psychology and psychiatry (US News, Best Global Universities), and we are home to one of the world’s largest centres for neuroscience research. Based on the same site as the world famous Maudsley Hospital and King’s College Hospital, you will get the opportunity to work alongside world-leading scientists and clinicians as part of your role. The Department of Neuroimaging is focused on the research and development of neuroimaging techniques from basic science to clinical application. We aspire to making brain imaging an essential clinical tool in both neurology and psychiatry as we devise innovative imaging methods to measure brain structure, function, physiology and metabolism.
About the role
Applications are invited to join a team of researchers exploring cognitive dysfunction in clinical populations. A Clinical Research Fellow position is available in Professor Steve Williams’ research group, based in the Department of Neuroimaging. The successful candidate will play a key role in designing, setting up and conducting studies investigating the brain circuits underlying cognitive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia and depression. The aim of this project is to combine innovative digital cognitive assessments and multimodal neuroimaging to identify mechanistic circuit-based markers of pathophysiology, paving the way for future development of more targeted novel treatments. The post will involve a diverse range of research activities, including screening and recruiting patients and healthy volunteers, conducting psychiatric assessments and medical reviews, and contributing to the collection of neuroimaging and other data.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity – depending on their individual interests and ambitions – to get involved in data analysis and develop their research interests within this or any other ancillary projects. This role will lead to an excellent grounding in cutting-edge psychiatric research, cognitive assessment, and clinical evaluation, including developing skills in administering gold-standard diagnostic and clinical ratings, which will be useful for future research and clinical practice. In addition, the successful applicant will benefit from being part of cohesive and collaborative research group, will receive training and support to further their career objectives, and have opportunities to gain experience in analysis of cognition or neuroimaging data, research using virtual reality, computational modelling and contributing to peer-reviewed publications, if desired.
This is a full time post (40 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31st Dec 2026.
About you
Essential criteria
- Full GMC registration with valid license to practice.
- Relevant clinical and/or research experience, particularly in psychosis and mood disorders (preferably beyond core psychiatry training)
- Knowledge of basic research methods and study design in psychiatric research, including on the use of neuroimaging techniques or cognitive tasks to study mechanisms of disease in psychiatry
- Skills and experience relevant to the recruitment and clinical assessment of patients with psychiatric disorders
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently as well as within multidisciplinary teams
- Good organisational and time management skills, including ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
Desirable criteria
- Interest and enthusiasm for cognition and circuits-based approaches in psychiatry
- Training and/or experience with psychiatric rating scales of symptoms and side-effects of psychiatric medication
- Higher degree or postgraduate experience in relevant field/course (e.g. psychiatry, neuroscience, neuroimaging)
- Evidence of good academic potential and trajectory (e.g. prizes, distinctions, publications depending on career level, prior presentation of research findings, grant funding)
- International experience in psychiatric research
Downloading a copy of our Job Description
Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.
