Research Assistant

1000scholars; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Cambridge invites applications for a Pre-doctoral Research Assistant in the Department of Psychiatry to support NIHR-funded projects and a digital intervention feasibility study. The role is based in Cambridge, with liaison across NHS trusts nationwide, and involves psychometric analysis, large-scale data work, and contributing to translational research efforts.

Applicants should have a psychology degree and experience with outcome measures, psychometrics, and quantitative

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in psychology or equivalent with knowledge of assessment and outcome measures in child and adolescent mental health.
• Experience with psychometric analysis and quantitative methods.
• Experience with administrative data is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Support three NIHR-funded projects for 29.6 hours per week until Dec 2027.
• Assist with delivery of Attend Well study, including organising the Young People's PPI panel and recruitment.
• Collaborate with Trusts across the UK and liaise with colleagues at Norwich, Berkshire, Liverpool, Manchester and London.
• Engage in data collection, analysis and other research activities as required.

Skills

Psychometrics

Quantitative analysis

Clinical trials

Research evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology

Job description

This post will be based at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Psychiatry and work as a Pre-doctoral Research Assistant to support three National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) funded projects for 29.6 hours per week until the end of December 2027.

WAIT LESS is now progressing on to a feasibility trial of a new digital intervention for young people with depression on the CAMHS waiting list at two NHS trusts. The post will also be joining the validation of the Artemis A computer adaptive testing algorithm against clinical research diagnosis and seeing how profiles change with treatment in clinical samples from various parts of the UK. They will be based in Cambridge but liaise with colleagues at trusts in Norwich, Berkshire, Liverpool, Manchester and London. This list might expand as other partners come on board. The work requires knowledge and experience of psychometrics, analysis of large quantitative datasets, clinical trials and evaluations. The successful applicant will also support the delivery of the Attend Well study, particularly organising and running the Young People's PPI panel, supporting participant recruitment and assisting with data collection and other research activities.

We welcome applicants who would like to use this opportunity to develop further research proposals fellowship applications or other grants from the work completed.

The Child and Adolescent Resilience and Mental Health Research group undertakes applied epidemiology, as well as intervention development and evaluation. The successful applicant will be at a junior level but will have the opportunity to support placement students. We are particularly interested in someone with experience of psychometric analysis and quantitative methods.

The methods applied by the team include secondary analysis of large epidemiological datasets, mixed qualitative and quantitative observational studies, economic evaluation systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials. The research is inherently translational and multi-disciplinary, and involves strong links with psychology, pediatrics, education, epidemiology, trial specialists, statisticians, health economics and basic scientists. Though we are looking for an applicant at a junior level, we envisage that they will eventually become involved in all aspects of this work.

Applicants will have a bachelor's degree in psychology, or equivalent, a strong knowledge of assessment and outcome measures in relation to children and young people's mental health. Experience of working with administrative data would be desirable but is not essential.

Informal enquiries may be directed to Professor Tamsin Ford via [e-mail]

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 December 2027 in the first instance.

£33,002 to £35,608 pro rata