Research Assistant (Fixed term)

University of Nottingham; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement 30 days

Job summary

The University of Nottingham is seeking a role within Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences to support a project exploring neuromodulation and access barriers for depression. You will engage community groups, conduct interviews and co-production workshops, and contribute to CEI activities within mood disorders research.

UK-based travel will be required, including evenings and some weekends.

Qualifications

• Experience with qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience working with people with mental health conditions (clinical or research).
• Ability to work flexibly for evening and weekend engagement events.
• Own transport or willingness to use public transport (costs reimbursed).

Responsibilities

• Engage and build relationships with community groups in Nottinghamshire.
• Attend community group meetings and engagement events, including evenings and weekends.
• Conduct interviews, focus groups, and co-production workshops with people who have experienced depression.
• Support CEI work across the Mood Disorders research program.

Skills

Qualitative research

Community engagement

Interviews

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Psychology or Neurosciences degree / Social Sciences / Health Sciences

Job description

Area

Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences

Location

Jubilee Campus

Salary

£32,080 to £35,608 per annum pro-rata depending on skills and experience.

Closing Date

Monday 05 October 2026

Reference

MED2178126

About the role

This role supports a new research project seeking to understand what people think about neuromodulation (non-invasive brain stimulation) treatments for the mental health condition depression. The specific focus is on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The project is particularly seeking to identify barriers to access that may be experienced by groups of people that are not typically included in mental health research. The role also supports Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) work across our wider mood disorders research.

The role holder will engage and build relationships with community groups in Nottinghamshire whose members are not typically included in mental health research. This will involve attendance at community group meetings and engagement events, including in the evening and on occasion at weekends. The role holder will also conduct interviews, focus groups, and co-production workshops, with people with experience of depression.

About the team

You will be part of an enthusiastic and supportive wider research team developing new neuromodulation treatments for mental health conditions. You will also be part of the multi-disciplinary and vibrant MindTech HealthTech Research Centre and will work closely with MindTech’s Senior Patient and Public Involvement Manager.

About you

You will need to have a degree in Psychology or Neurosciences, Social Sciences, or Health Sciences; your own transport or be comfortable using public transport (costs will be reimbursed); experience of working with people with mental health conditions (either in a clinical or research context); and experience of qualitative research methodologies. You will need to be able to work flexibly to attend online and in-person engagement events and stakeholder activities, including in the evening and on occasion at weekends.

What we offer

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year
• Formal training in community engagement and hands‑on training in qualitative and participatory research methodologies
• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes, and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, visit our benefits website

What next

Further information is available in the role profile. Applications will be reviewed and a shortlist of candidates will be invited to interview in October 2026. The successful candidate will commence in November 2026.

This is a full time (36.25 hours per week), fixed term (18-month) post. The role requires you to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Please contact Dr Paul Briley ( [e-mail] ) if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

It is a condition of this post that satisfactory enhanced disclosure is obtained from the 'Disclosure and Barring Service'.

University culture

Our university is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) employer. Increasing the diversity of our community is extremely important to us and we are committed to the aims of Disability Confident Scheme.

We are the first university to have achieved Athena Swan Gold Award.

To help you succeed, we published Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process.

Discover our benefits, visit Your Benefits website.

We welcome applications from UK, Europe and worldwide and aim to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible. Visit the Moving to Nottingham page for details.

Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration.