Clinical Research Assistant: Cognitive, Computational and Clinical Neuroscience

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Oxford is looking for a Clinical Research Assistant to work on the GPS study, which investigates prefrontal cortex dysfunction in psychosis. This 2-year position offers a unique opportunity to enhance research skills in a supportive environment, with the possibility of working towards a DPhil.

Benefits

Excellent contributory pension scheme

38 days annual leave

Comprehensive childcare services

Family leave schemes

Cycle loan scheme

Discounted bus travel

Membership to social and sports clubs

Qualifications

• Demonstrable interest in developing research competencies.
• Enthusiasm for quantitative methods and cognitive neuroscience.
• Understanding of functional neuroimaging analysis is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead patient recruitment from NHS psychiatry clinics.
• Manage day-to-day logistics of the study.
• Conduct fMRI sessions and online behavioural experiments.

Skills

Quantitative methods

Cognitive neuroscience

Programming

Education

Medical degree with GMC registration

Job description

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 motivated Clinical Research Assistant for an exciting 2-year position funded by a Wellcome Neuroscience in Mental Health award. The GPS (Goal Planning in Psychosis) study is a unique cross-disciplinary, cross-species programme investigating how prefrontal cortex dysfunction leads to cognitive and planning impairment in psychosis. The project combines task-based fMRI in individuals with psychosis, online behavioural experiments, and cutting-edge natural language processing (large language models) to investigate the brain computations supporting planning in humans, and how this can go awry in psychosis.

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

This role offers a unique opportunity to conduct work with cross-disciplinary researchers in psychiatry and neuroscience, leading the conduct of the clinical neuroimaging portion of the GPS study. It is ideally suited for a research-minded clinician looking to broaden their research experience in cognitive neuroscience and computational methods. The post holder will be supported to develop their research portfolio, with potential to work towards a DPhil (i.e., PhD).

The postholder will lead patient recruitment from NHS psychiatry clinics, manage the day-to-day logistics of the study, and conduct fMRI sessions and online behavioural experiments. The clinical research assistant will also conduct clinician-related research interviews and contribute to the running of experimental medicine studies.

About You

The ideal candidate will hold a medical degree with GMC registration. You will have a demonstrable interest in developing research competencies and enthusiasm for quantitative methods, cognitive neuroscience and willingness to gain expertise in programming. You will have an understanding of basic principles underlying functional neuroimaging analysis and/or quantitative analysis of behavioural data, and have previous research experience (e.g. undergraduate/postgraduate studies).

Research experience in conducting experimental projects in related fields and experimental studies involving clinical populations would be desirable.

Diversity

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

Our active Psychiatry People and Culture teams and initiatives 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.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday on 23 June 2025.

Interviews will take place during week commencing 7 July.

Contact Person :

HR Team

Vacancy ID :

179579

Contact Phone :

Closing Date & Time :

23-Jun-2025 12:00

Pay Scale :

CLINICAL RESEARCHER (NEW SCALE) (E63)

Contact Email :

[e-mail]

Salary (£) :

£36,616-£61,825 p.a.