Research Assistant (Data Scientist)

We are looking for two data scientists and/or software developers that will play an integral role in providing biostatistical, data analytical or software development expertise for projects led by Professor Paramala Santosh who heads the Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology and Rare Diseases (CIPPRD) at the Maudsley Hospital, London, and the Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology (CIPP) Rett Centre at King’s College London.

The integrated clinical and research CIPPRD/CIPP Rett Centre team manages young people aged 2 years or over with complex treatment-resistant neuropsychiatric disorders. The clinical and research team has also developed the world’s first centre for personalised medicine in Rett syndrome (a debilitating childhood neurodevelopmental disorder) that provides access to clinical trials.

We are looking for two ambitious Research Assistant /Data Scientists who can perform data management, data analysis work and programming to high standards including the management of databases with diverse datasets. The post-holders will also need to have excellent statistical analysis skills and can develop solutions for analysis of clinical and research datasets and how they can be used to improve patient outcomes. The applicants should also be able to support clinical projects that require data analysis for members of the clinical and research teams.

This post will be a key part of a team that interfaces between both clinical and applied clinical research in child and adolescent psychiatry, and complex neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifically, the roles will involve providing biostatistical/software programming support such as real-time analytical AI to help us harness clinical data faster for prediction, risk stratification, innovation and improving clinical outcomes. This will also involve the implementation of machine learning and neural network solutions for the different clinical and academic research projects within the team.

The postholders must have independent critical thinking, flexibility, and good teamwork. The successful candidates will also benefit from being able to work with a multi-dimensional team involving Consultants, Speciality Doctors, Clinical Psychologists and other Data and Computational Analysts.

The posts will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 12 months in the first instance.

Both roles are full-time posts – 1.0% full time equivalent

• Supporting members of the clinical & research team with higher order biostatistics and data analytics against deliverables in discussion with Professor Santosh. This also involves being able to manage databases with diverse datasets for different projects and to co-ordinate different aspects of work to meet deadlines. 
• Be able to engage in proactive discussions with members of the clinical and research team on the analysis strategy and be responsible for development of statistical analysis plans for manuscripts in preparation. 
• Be able to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to accurately document statistical analysis plans, methods and analyses undertaken. 
• Work closely with other members of the clinical and research teams to understand and support cross-functional projects. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Essential criteria 

MSc degree related to Life Sciences, Biostatistics, Machine Learning, or allied discipline or relevant experience in Industry/NHS or Academia. 

Have extensive knowledge of data management and expertise in higher order statistical analysis taking account of data structure and applying biostatistical models for the analysis of longitudinal anonymised clinical datasets to improve outcomes. 

Application and understanding of statistical software packages such as MATLAB and R, and extensive experience of scripting/coding skills in languages such as Python. 

Extensive understanding of data management and being able to develop SOPs to monitor workflow. 

Experience of algorithm development and providing biostatistical support such as real-time analytical AI of clinical data for prediction, risk stratification, innovation and improving clinical outcomes. 

Knowledge of child and adolescent psychiatry or psychology and understanding of the subject area with an emphasis on neurodevelopmental disorders or health related outcomes. 

Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment 

Ability to organize own time and work independently 

Have excellent written and good verbal communication skills 

Desirable criteria 

Willingness to help train others in biostatistics and higher order analytics across the clinical and research team 

Develop productive working relationships with other team members and support them as necessary 

Experience of collaborative clinical research especially using digital health monitoring