"Research Assistant: Neuroscience and Psychosis Research"

Research Assistant: Neuroscience and Psychosis Research

Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

The Department of Psychiatry is based on the Warneford Hospital site in Oxford – a friendly, welcoming place of work with an international reputation for excellence. The Department has a substantial research programme, with major funding from Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and provides highly rated medical training in psychiatry. The Head of Department is Professor Belinda Lennox.

We are seeking a research assistant to play a central role in a Wellcome funded study “FOCUS: Function and Cognition in Early Psychosis”, reporting to Dr Rob McCutcheon.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

About the Role

The post is funded for 12 months and is based in the Department of Psychiatry at the Warneford Hospital.

You will join a group of researchers with wide-ranging expertise, and a belief there is an opportunity to make fundamental advances in the treatment of psychotic disorders, thereby improving the outcomes for individuals with psychosis.

Working closely with senior colleagues, you will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the research project. This includes recruitment of people with psychotic disorders and healthy controls to research studies. You will gather, analyse, and present qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources using appropriate research methodologies, and disseminate these through publications and presentations. You will perform clinical and cognitive assessments and manage your own research and administrative activities, within guidelines provided by senior colleagues.

About You

You will have a first undergraduate degree in psychology, neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, or equivalent and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within established research programmes. You will also have a demonstrable enthusiasm for quantitative methods, cognitive neuroscience, and willingness to gain expertise in programming. Excellent communication skills are essential as is a demonstrable understanding of basic principles underlying functional neuroimaging analysis and/or quantitative analysis of behavioural data.

Experience recruiting individuals with psychotic disorders to research studies and in neuroimaging would be desirable.

Diversity

Committed to equality and valuing diversity. Our active Psychiatry People and Culture teams and initiatives including our values and behaviours framework, work to make the Department of Psychiatry as supportive, welcoming and inclusive as possible.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. Please see the University pages on the application process at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/application-process.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 midday on 2 February 2026.

Interviews will take place during week commencing 16 February 2026.

Pay Scale: RESEARCH GRADE 6

Salary: £35,681-£41,636

Contact: HR Officer, vacancies@psych.ox.ac.uk

Vacancy ID: 184095