Research Assistant

Job title:

Research Assistant

Company:

Cardiff University

Job description

School / DirectorateSchool of MedicineAdvertResearch Assistant
Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute
Cardiff University School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life SciencesA position is available for a Research Assistant to work in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute at Cardiff University. Based at the University’s flagship Hadyn Ellis Building, you will be part of a team of researchers at Cardiff , Bristol and Exeter Universities working on a groundbreaking and innovative Welcome Trust funded grant entitled ‘The Sleep Detectives: Sleep stratification in young people at high risk of psychosis’How can sleep measurements inform interventions for children at high risk of psychosis? Evidence links sleep to both cognitive function and psychosis risk. However, the details of when and how sleep impacts cognition and psychosis risk remain unclear. In this study, a multidisciplinary team spanning Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter will evaluate if sleep can be used to determine personalised care for children and young people at a genetically high risk of psychosis. To do this, you will collect longitudinal measures of sleep behaviour and neurophysiology (including wearable technology, such as EEG headbands and actiwatches, and app-based metrics), as well as cognitive and clinical assessments. You will work together with the children and their families to test and validate graded measures of sleep and cognition.You will conduct psychiatric interviews, assess neurocognitive function and obtain blood and saliva samples from participants. You will be required to travel UK-wide (expenses will be provided) to assess patients in their own homes which will require overnight stays and work outside of normal office hours.You should have a degree in Psychology or a related subject at 2:1 or higher. Experience of working with children/ adolescents who have a history of mental illness and/ or neurodevelopmental disorders is highly desirable.For informal enquiries please contact Professor Marianne Van Den Bree (vandenbreemb@cardiff.ac.uk)This post is full time (35 hours per week), available immediately from and is fixed term until 3rd September 2026.The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.Salary: £32,332 – £34,980 per annum (Grade 5)
Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.How we will support you in performing in this role –There are some things that you must have before you can start this role (see ‘Essential Criteria’ below), but other things can be developed either through training, or just by general on-the-job experience. We want to support and develop you once you have started in the role using a combination of the following to get the best out of you:

• Regular one-to-ones with your manager
• An experienced and supportive team around you
• Supporting you through job-relevant training and development that you may require.
• A mentoring scheme

Date advert posted: Tuesday, 30 April 2024Closing date: Tuesday, 25 June 2024Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:Post Reference Number18243BRJob DescriptionMain function
To contribute to research within specialist area, carrying out supporting work that helps lead to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To undertake research, e.g. by planning, preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments
• Actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research at meetings, through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate, ensuring information is communicated to internal and external partners
• To contribute and support research publications and presentations as required
• To contribute and support research funding bids as required
• To analyse and communicate complex ideas, concepts and data using appropriate methods and packages
• To resolve issues and support colleagues in devising procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• To generate research output and contribute to the development of independent and original ideas as appropriate
• To provide support in research activities for undergraduate courses and research programmes and provide guidance to other members of staff within the research team
• To maintain and update area of specialist knowledge, researching and critically appraising relevant literature within the area.
• To recruit individuals with intellectual disability or other neurodevelopmental conditions caused by a genetic deletion or duplication and to maintain involvement of the participants.
• To develop a study protocol to assess sleep behaviour and physiology and cognition, working together with the children and their families
• To conduct psychiatric interviews, assess neurocognitive function and obtain blood and saliva samples from participants.
• To liaise with healthcare professionals and teams at other universities to facilitate patient recruitment and assessment for the study.
• To travel UK-wide to assess patients in their own homes. This can require long distance travel/driving, consecutive overnight stays away from home and some assessments will take place outside of normal working hours.

Other

• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• To abide by the University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Salary Range Max.34,980GradeGrade 5Salary Range Min.32,332Job CategoryAcademic – Research, Health, Medical & DentalAdditional InformationIMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria
It is the School of Medicine’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 18243BRIf candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcome the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.Career PathwayResearchPerson SpecificationEssential Criteria
Qualifications and Education
1. A degree in Psychology or a related subject at 2:1 or higher or experience of working with children/ adolescents who have a history of mental illness and/ or neurodevelopmental disordersKnowledge, Skills and Experience
2. Knowledge of research methods and techniques within specialist field:a. Genetic syndromes and major psychiatric disorders.
b. A good understanding of data storage and protectionDemonstrable experience in:c. Conducting and organising research projects.
d. Working with people with learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental issues or mental health problems.
e. Working with children. 3. Proven ability to analyse complex information and summarise appropriately
4. Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodiesCommunication and Team Working
5. Proven communication skills, including presentation to various audiences
6. Excellent organisational and team-working skillsOther
7. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and teamworking within workDesirable Criteria
1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience
2. Possession of a full valid driving licence is required.
3. Experience taking biological samples from participants (blood/saliva).
4. Experience of using the REDCap Database.
5. Understanding of the ethics application process and awareness of regulations regarding Material Transfer and agreements for DNA samples
6. Good understanding of the principles of conducting, interpreting and scoring psychiatric interviews both children as well as adults.

Expected salary

£32332 – 34980 per year

Location

Bristol Area – Exeter

Job date

Wed, 01 May 2024 23:06:51 GMT

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