Research Associate

13930BR

School of Medicine

Research

Advert

Research Associate
National Centre for Mental Health
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
Cardiff University School of Medicine
College Of Biomedical and Life Sciences

The National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) of the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at the Cardiff University School of Medicine seeks to appoint a Research Associate. The successful applicant will be based in NCMH and conduct analysis of data from studies that come under the NCMH portfolio. 

The NCMH is a Health and Care Research Wales centre, that since 2011 has recruited over 20,000 participants for mental health research building a rich database of research data.

The successful candidate will conduct research employing the rich phenotypic, genetic, and electronic health data, contributing to the Divisions research plans. The focus of the specific research plans will be determined in response to the interests and experience of the successful candidate but will be expected to fit in the research priorities of the Division and the NCMH principal investigators.

50% of the candidate’s time will be devoted to working on student mental health as part of an MRC funded collaborative project with a number of other Universities across the UK.  The other 50% will be devoted to working on NCMH’s intervention development workstream.

Candidates should possess a postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area or equivalent or relevant industrial experience.

This post is full time (35 hours per week), available immediately and is fixed term until 31st August 2025.

Salary: £35,333 – £42,155 per annum (Grade 6). 

Date advert posted: Thursday, 15 September 2022

Closing date: Sunday, 2 October 2022

Please 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.

“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: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”  

Job Description

Main function
To conduct research within NCMH and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of work in high-quality journals. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research
• To conduct research within psychiatric phenotypic data and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
• To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research projects, including the planning and organisation of the projects and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate.
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
• To participate in School research activities.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.

Other
• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally  to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:

i.  Analysis of large scale mental health data.
ii. Working with complex patient datasets.

3. Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field.

4. Proven ability to publish in national journals.

5. Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies.

Communication and Team Working
6. Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication.

7. Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.

Other
8. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work.

9. Proven ability to work without close supervision.

Desirable Criteria

10. Experience of gaining appropriate ethical approvals and required governance.

11. Experience of clinical intervention evaluation. 

11.  Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.

13. Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is 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, 13930BR

If 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.

Job Category

Academic – Research, Health, Medical & Dental