Research Associate - Postdoctoral Analyst for the MRC Genes & Mental Health & Health Cognition Proje

King's College London; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting postdoctoral opportunity awaits in a prestigious program focused on health and disease in British Bangladeshi and Pakistani populations. This role involves leading statistical and genomic analyses, contributing to impactful research, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. The successful candidate will develop independent research outputs and mentor junior staff, all while ensuring adherence to data governance policies. Join a forward-thinking institution dedicated to diversity and inclusion, where your contributions to science will make a significant impact on community health and well-being.

Qualifications

• PhD or near completion in relevant fields.
• Strong programming skills in R, Python, and bash.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-level statistical and genetic analyses.
• Manage data security and research ethics standards.

Skills

Statistical Genetics

Bioinformatics

Data Science

R Programming

Python Programming

Statistical Modelling

Communication Skills

Education

PhD in Statistical Genetics

PhD in Bioinformatics

PhD in Data Science

Tools

Linux/Unix

GitHub

RMarkdown

Job description

About us:

This exciting new postdoctoral opportunity is based within the prestigious Genes & Health programme, a large-scale longitudinal study of health and disease in British Bangladeshi and Pakistani populations. With over 60,000 volunteers recruited to date, the project is a flagship UK Longitudinal Population Study funded by the MRC, Wellcome Trust, and NIHR. King's College London is leading the mental health and cognition component, including online assessments, genotyping, and linkage to electronic health records for over 25,000 participants.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and skilled Postdoctoral Analyst to take a leading role in the statistical and genomic analysis of rich, multidimensional data generated through this arm of the study. The postholder will be supported by a multidisciplinary team spanning psychiatry, psychology, genomics, informatics, and community engagement.

This post is embedded in the Translational Neurogenetics group led by Prof Gerome Breen at King's, and the successful candidate will be encouraged to develop independent research outputs, co-author publications, supervise junior staff, and contribute to open and transparent science.

About the role:

The Role:

The successful candidate will:

• Lead and perform high-level statistical and genetic analyses, including GWAS, polygenic risk scoring, cognitive data analysis, and integration with EHR data
• Work closely with collaborators at QMUL (particularly Prof Sarah Finer), NHS Trusts, and internationally
• Contribute to hypothesis generation, statistical study design, and quality control pipelines
• Support dissemination of research through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences
• Provide supervision and training to junior staff, PhD students, and interns as needed
• Take responsibility for data management, reproducibility standards (GitHub, RMarkdown, OSF), and adherence to data governance policies
• Contribute to ethics submissions, PPIE events, and community research planning

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct genome-wide association analyses, cognitive phenotype modelling, and EHR-integrated studies (and publish these)
• Assist in the development and implementation of research protocols
• Create and manage reproducible data analysis pipelines
• Develop code documentation and analysis summaries suitable for internal review and for publication
• Liaise with external collaborators and stakeholders, including community organisations
• Train and mentor research assistants and students
• Maintain data security and research ethics standards
• Support broader dissemination through presentations and reports for our stakeholders.

This post will be offered on a fixed term contract for 3 years.

This is a full time post (100% FTE).

About you:

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

Essential criteria

• A PhD (or near completion) in statistical genetics, bioinformatics, psychiatric epidemiology, data science, or a related field
• Strong programming skills (e.g. R, Python, bash) and experience in LINUX/UNIX environments
• Experience working with GWAS or large-scale genetic data
• Knowledge of statistical modelling, including longitudinal or multivariate methods
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and prioritise tasks
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion in research

Desirable criteria

• Experience with EHR data or cognitive assessments
• Enthusiasm for understanding of South Asian health and/or previous experience working with underserved populations
• Familiarity with community engagement, PPIE methods, or participatory research
• Experience writing ethics applications or working under NHS data governance frameworks

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.

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information:

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.