Senior Research Associate, Clinical Neuroscience | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust; Knowsley; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

The Senior Research Associate will lead clinical neuroscience research within the Mood Clinic, translating brain research into better assessments and treatments for mood disorders. You will oversee study design, data acquisition, analysis, and dissemination, working closely with multidisciplinary teams in a large North West NHS trust.

Flexible working arrangements will be considered; the role requires strong expertise in neuroimaging, EEG, TMS, and a track record of leading impactful clinical

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience or related field.
• Experience leading neuroimaging studies.
• Proficiency in EEG/fMRI data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical neuroscience research programmes in the Mood Clinic.
• Coordinate clinical studies and ensure high-quality data collection.
• Oversee study design, data analysis and interpretation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.

Skills

Neuroimaging

EEG

TMS

Research leadership

Clinical neuroscience

Education

PhD in Neuroscience

Tools

SPM

FSL

Job description

Senior Research Associate, Clinical Neuroscience | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

The postholder will manage and co-ordinate clinical research within the Research & Innovation Department, providing leadership for the Mood Clinic’s clinical neuroscience research portfolio. Clinical neuroscience is central to this role, enabling the translation of advanced understanding of brain function into high-quality research that improves the assessment and treatment of mood disorders.

The postholder will provide strategic and operational leadership in developing clinical neuroscience research programmes. Strong knowledge and practical skills in neuroimaging and EEG are essential to designing and delivering rigorous studies, interpreting complex brain-based data and advancing innovative research within the Mood Clinic.

The postholder will be expected to maintain and further develop this specialist expertise, alongside relevant knowledge of TMS.

To ensure high standards and continuity of care for research participants during the study and maintain lines of communication.

To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

To contribute to the ongoing development of the clinical neuroscience research applications of EEG, fMRI or TMS

To possess theoretical knowledge of the relevant mood disorders and to ensure that all theoretical and practical knowledge relating to mood disorders process is developed and maintained.

To keep up to date with the changes in clinical neuroscience applications to mood disorders.

To assess patients/ volunteers for eligibility for research and to monitor their condition throughout their participation.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

This advert closes on Thursday 19 Nov 2026