Clinical Research Associate in the Department of Psychosis Studies

King's College London; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading research team at King's College London focused on pioneering studies in psychosis. As a key member, you will engage in innovative research, collect clinical data, and develop your skills in a collaborative environment. This role offers training in advanced methodologies and opportunities to contribute to impactful research in psychiatric disorders.

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration with valid license to practice required.
• Interest in psychiatric research and evidence of strong academic potential.

Responsibilities

• Conduct innovative studies on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Collect and analyze clinical and neuroimaging data.
• Ensure successful completion of the research program.

Skills

Creativity

Critical Thinking

Organizational Skills

Teamwork

Independence

Education

Higher degree in relevant course

Tools

SPSS

R

STATA

Job description

About us

The Department of Psychosis Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London is one of the world's leading research centers dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

What Does the Department Do?

The department conducts pioneering research in:

• Early psychosis detection and intervention - Developing strategies to diagnose and treat psychotic disorders at the earliest stages.
• Neuroimaging and biomarkers - Using advanced MRI, PET, and other imaging techniques to study the brain's structure and function in psychosis.
• Psychopharmacology and novel treatments - Investigating new and existing medications, including antipsychotics and immune-modulating therapies.
• Genetics and environmental influences - Exploring how genetic predisposition and environmental factors contribute to the development of psychosis.
• Cognitive and psychological therapies - Developing innovative therapeutic approaches to improve long-term outcomes for patients

Research & Clinical Collaboration

The department collaborates closely with:

• South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) - Ensuring research is integrated with real-world clinical practice.
• International academic and pharmaceutical partners - To translate discoveries into impactful treatments.

Why Join the Department?

• Work alongside world-renowned experts in psychosis research.
• Gain experience in cutting-edge methodologies, including neuroimaging and computational psychiatry.
• Be part of an internationally recognized institution ranked among the top in the world for psychiatric research.
• Access state-of-the-art research facilities and clinical training opportunities.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to gain and develop research skills. The successful candidates will play a key role in innovative studies investigating new approaches to treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They will join Prof Oliver Howes' research group. This is based at the Institute of Psychiatry and Institute of Medical Sciences, two of the leading clinical research centres in the world.

The studies involve subject recruitment and collection of clinical, multimodal neuroimaging and other data in patients. The projects include a clinical trial of the potential of adjunctive treatment for treatment resistant psychosis, examining use of clozapine in first episode psychosis (ECO), and of novel treatment approaches. The post-holder will have opportunities to get involved in data analysis and develop their research interests within the projects. Training in research methods will be provided, and the post-holder will develop skills in using gold-standard diagnostic and clinical ratings, which will be useful for future research and clinical practice.

Working closely with the Lead Investigators, the successful candidate will ensure the successful conduct and completion of the research programme. They will contribute to the collection and analysis of data and play a key role in the assessment and monitoring of patients, which will constitute clinical sessions and may count towards training. They will also work closely with other research staff in the project and foster effective collaborative working relationships with the local early intervention services for psychosis. The successful candidate will also be encouraged to develop their own research interests.

This is a full time post, and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31st July 2026.

About you

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

Essential criteria

1. Full GMC registration with valid license to practice (candidates without this will not be considered)
2. Interest and commitment to psychiatric research
3. Ability to think creatively and critically
4. Ability to work with teams to address research or audit
5. Good organisational and time management skills
6. Ambitious, enthusiastic about research in this area, responsible, flexible
7. Ability to work independently, work in a team and to deadlines
8. Evidence of strong academic potential and trajectory (eg prizes, distinctions, publications depending on career level

Desirable criteria

1. Relevant clinical and/or research experience, particularly in psychosis
2. Knowledge of managing research data and statistical analyses (such as SPSS, R or STATA
3. Publications and/or presentations of research findings, particularly in psychosis, imaging or other relevant areas
4. Higher degree in relevant course (eg neuroscience, neuroimaging)

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.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

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.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ' How we Recruit' pages.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearances.