"Research Associate"

About us:

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) has been a global leader in advancing our understanding, prevention, and treatment of neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health for decades. For over 60 years, the Department of Psychology has been at the forefront of research that directly informs clinical practice.

Its research spans a broad spectrum of mental and physical health challenges, including anxiety disorders, trauma, somatoform disorders, chronic pain, psychosis, depression, antisocial personality disorders, childhood and adolescent disorders, emotional and personality disorders, and neurodegeneration. Through pioneering studies and innovative approaches, the department continues to shape the future of mental health care and psychological research.

About the role:

The post-holder will play a key role in an exciting feasibility study evaluating the implementation of an eye-tracker-based cognitive training game designed to help young people with ADHD improve their control over visual attention in school settings. Working independently within an interdisciplinary team, they will collaborate closely with Dr. Samuel Westwood (King’s College London), Dr. Elizabeth Liddle (University of Nottingham), and her team.

This role is well-suited to someone with a strong interest in translational neuroscience, cognitive training, and the educational needs of children with ADHD. The primary focus is to engage parents, teachers, and young people in the implementation and evaluation of a new digital mental healthcare technology. The post-holder will be proactive, capable of balancing multiple demands, and able to provide informed recommendations to project leads.

Their responsibilities will include engaging and enrolling London schools in the study, collaborating with PPIE groups to refine study protocols for ethical approval, and working with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) staff to identify eligible child participants. They will also train teachers and research team members in assessing ADHD-related behaviours and cognitive functions, support schools in implementing the intervention, and evaluate user experiences through questionnaires and focus groups. Additionally, they will manage study administration and work closely with a counterpart at the University of Nottingham, who will oversee participation in East Midlands schools.

Beyond implementation, the post-holder will contribute to data analysis, report writing, stakeholder engagement, and the preparation of academic publications, ensuring the study’s findings are effectively disseminated to both scientific and educational communities.

This is a full time post and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30th November 2027.

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area (or pending results)
• Proven experience in managing research projects within healthcare or educational settings, including the development of study protocols in collaboration with PPIE representatives for ethical review submission.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in data collection, secure data storage, and statistical analysis, adhering to open science practices and data protection regulations.
• Understanding of Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) design, particularly for non-pharmacological interventions.
• Expertise in cognitive and/or neuropsychological assessments, including administration and interpretation of test results.
• Familiarity with the UK education system, including school structures and the National Curriculum (e.g., Key Stages)
• Proven ability to report research findings with clarity and rigor, demonstrated through authorship of peer-reviewed publications or equivalent outputs.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, both in writing and in person.
• Demonstrate capacity to learn new skills and methodologies, combined with strong organisational abilities to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, with flexibility to travel and work varied hours.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working with children and young people in research or clinical settings.
• Experience in trial management within clinical or educational settings.
• Proficiency in database management systems.
• Familiarity with the UK Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) framework.
• Experience in training and/or supervising team members.

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

Grade and Salary: £45,031 to £47,379 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 123886

Close Date: 12-Sep-2025

Contact Person: Dr Samuel Westwood

Contact Details: Samuel.westwood@kcl.ac.uk