Research Assistant (x2 positions)

About us

The UCL Division of Psychiatry, located within the Faculty of Brain Sciences, is a world-renowned centre of excellence in mental health research. Our mission is to improve mental health through cutting-edge research and education. By leveraging insights from basic science, we address clinical problems with the aim of improving patient outcomes and public health. Moreover, we take pride in delivering innovative teaching that is directly relevant to clinical practice and informed by our research. Join our team and help us drive forward the field of mental health research and education.

About the role

The postholders will undertake high-quality research and produce high-impact publications as part of a new research project. The goal of the initiative is to contribute to answering the pressing scientific question of whether surprises generated during treatment contribute to the improvement of anxiety and depression symptoms.

Appointment details:

• The post is graded on the non-clinical research staff Pay Scale Grade 6B, the annual salary for which ranges from £34,702 to £37,548 (including London Allowance).
• The post is available from as soon as possible and will be initially funded for two years.
• Any offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced/standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• This role is based 100% onsite.

About you

The successful candidates will have a solid understanding of statistics and relevant software (e.g., R) and experience with experimental methods (e.g., undertaking experimental procedures to protocol) and have good interpersonal skills and an understanding of anxiety problems in young people. The successful candidates will contribute to open science and use transparent reporting and data handling practices according to the highest standards. A degree (2:1 or above) in psychology or related discipline is essential for this role.

University of Oxford are also recruiting for Research Assistants to work on this project.

The post-holder will work closely with colleagues at the Department of Psychiatry in Oxford and at University College London. We anticipate they will attend regular meetings at UCL.

Application process:

• A full job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
• Please use the personal statement section to explain how you meet each essential and desirable criteria outlined in the person specification.
• Applications will be anonymised, therefore please ensure your personal statement is fully completed as the panel will not be able to see your CV or any supporting documents uploaded. Please also ensure to include your degree class within your personal statement.
• The advert will close on 06/06/2023 at 23:59 BST, however we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.
• Interviews will be held on 9 June 2023.

Contact details:

• If you have any queries about the role, please contact Prof Argyris Stringaris at a.stringaris@ucl.ac.uk.
• If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact dop.hr@ucl.ac.uk.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

The full range of staff benefits can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/pay-benefits/staff-benefits

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

The Division of Psychiatry prides itself for operating in an all-inclusive environment. Teamwork is highly valued, individual strengths are recognised and celebrated, and there is a commitment to advancing the careers of everyone, regardless of gender or role. We aim to provide a family friendly environment where both women and men feel able to take the time they need for family. The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in academia and the Division is delighted to have an Athena Swan Silver Award since 2022. All staff are invited to contribute to EDI initiatives within the Division to contribute to improving working conditions and opportunities for all. Mentoring is a crucial part of supporting career progression and mentoring schemes are available for staff in the Division.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychiatry/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusion

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/