Academic ConnectRef Number
B02-08871
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
See advert text
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
09-Jul-2025
About us
We are a dynamic and multi-disciplinary research team that is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of autistic people. We are highly committed to conducting rigorous, high-quality research alongside the autistic community. We are located in the UCL’s Division of Psychology and Language Sciences (PALS). Psychology at UCL is the top-ranked in Europe in the 2024 Shanghai Ranking of World Universities. This reflects the excellent links between teaching, professional training and research within PALS, the wide range of research expertise, and the excellent opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary research provided at UCL.
The successful candidate will report to supervisors Dr Kate Cooper and Professor Will Mandy, as well as the wider study team, including Professor Liz Pellicano at UCL.
About the role
We are looking to recruit a research assistant and PhD candidate to work on a ground-breaking project, funded by the NIHR, called ‘Co-design and feasibility trial of autism social identity groups for psychological well-being in autistic adolescents’. This project will investigate the feasibility and acceptability of an RCT of social identity-based well-being groups for autistic adolescents aged 11-16 years old. At the heart of this work is close collaboration between researchers and the autistic community, which will shape the project at each stage.
The starting salary for this role is fixed at Grade 6B, Spinal Point 25 (£38,607, inclusive of London Allowance)
This role is an open-ended contract, funded for 3 years.
An Enhanced DBS check is required to carry out this role.
This role is eligible for hybrid working – to be further discussed in the interview stage.
This role may meet the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa. However, please note that whether we can sponsor someone for this role depends on the candidate as the eligibility criteria differs in this case per each candidate.
This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.
About you
The role provides funding for the completion of a PhD, and applicants will be expected to complete a PhD in mental health and well-being in autistic adolescents upon commencement of the role.
Alongside undertaking a PhD, the role requires the candidate to work as a research assistant on a busy clinical feasibility trial. We are looking to recruit a candidate with strong data management and quantitative research skills, with a commitment to co-produced autism and mental health research. The research assistant will need good communication and presentation skills to conduct clinical research assessments with autistic adolescents and run coproduction workshops with autistic individuals.