Research Assistant

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in the UK is seeking a full-time Research Assistant to support the Early Psychosis Research Group. The role involves managing research projects, screening participants, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Applicants should have a keen interest in healthcare research, possess strong communication skills, and be willing to travel nationally. Benefits include career progression opportunities, competitive leave, and a robust pension scheme. Contact Ksenija Yeeles for more information.

Benefits

27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays

NHS discount

Competitive pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff networking and support groups

Qualifications

• Experience or strong interest in healthcare research and patient-facing roles.
• Ability to travel nationally and independently.
• Working knowledge of research protocols and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the SINAPPS2 trial related to immunotherapy.
• Screen, recruit, and assess trial participants.
• Manage research administration systems and support teams.
• Ensure compliance with research regulations.
• Disseminate findings and assist in generating reports.

Skills

Healthcare research interest

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Job description

About the Role

Do you want to develop your research skills further and have patient‑facing experience or experience in healthcare research? Are you committed to working in line with good clinical practice to promote and deliver ground‑breaking research and novel interventions? This role could be for you!

We are recruiting for a full‑time Research Assistant to join us focusing on the day‑to‑day undertaking of research and research administrative support of the Early Psychosis Research Group multi‑centre research projects. The role will include liaising with research teams, multiple NHS organisations, Clinical Research Facilities, and NHS and University based clinicians and researchers.

You will work closely within the busy and dynamic research team assisting the project manager and Principal Investigator (PI) at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford and will be required to travel nationally with possible overnight stay. A requirement of this post is the ability to travel independently; therefore access to a car and full driving licence or an alternative means of travel is desirable.

This is a fixed term contract until 31 March 2027 and can be offered as a secondment opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the SINAPPS2 trial, a randomised double‑blinded placebo‑controlled clinical trial of investigational medicinal products testing the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy (IVIG and rituximab) in people with acute psychosis and anti‑neuronal membrane antibodies.
• Screen, recruit and assess trial participants, including home visits and meetings with families and mental health clinical teams.
• Manage research administration systems: obtain requisite permissions, maintain research documents and files, support research and clinical teams and sites nationally, and assist in data collection, management and reporting.
• Support related studies investigating the immunological basis of mental illness, which may involve lumbar punctures and other procedures.
• Apply and maintain knowledge of study protocols, and ensure compliance with local, national and international research regulations.
• Disseminate findings and assist in generating reports for stakeholders.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Experience or strong interest in healthcare research and patient‑facing roles.
• Ability to travel nationally and independently; possession of a car and full driving licence is desirable.
• Working knowledge of research protocols and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel nationally and possibly stay overnight.

Benefits

• Excellent opportunities for career progression.
• Access to tailored individual and Trust‑wide learning and development.
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service.
• NHS discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Lease car scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Mental Health First Aiders.
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply).
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team.

We are a Trust that provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”. Our values are: Caring, safe and excellent.

Contact for further details or informal visits:
Name: Ksenija Yeeles
Job title: Associate Research Group Leader
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]

At Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust we want to employ people not just with experience, but with the aptitude and motivation to succeed and whose values resonate with our own. Therefore, if you don’t meet all the requirements of the role and are unsure about applying but are excited about the opportunity, please do get in touch. We will be happy to discuss the requirements in more detail ahead of making a written application.