Research Assistant - Brain Imaging and Development in Babies (BIBS)

Job id: 085105. Salary: £37,332 - £38,966 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 13 March 2024. Closing date: 27 March 2024.

Business unit: IoPPN. Department: Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences.

Contact details:Professor Grainne McAlonan. [email protected]

Location: Denmark Hill Campus. Category: Research.

The successful candidate will provide comprehensive research support to an EU-IHI funded project (AIMS-2-TRIALS) to examine brain development from fetal, through to early childhood in children with a high and low likelihood of neurodevelopmental conditions (such as Autism and ADHD);  

As part of the AIMS research programme, the postholder will also be expected to:

• Maintain careful records and contribute to data entry and (where appropriate) analysis
• Help support all aspects of the study from scanning to follow-up cognitive, diagnostic and behavioural testing of infants and toddlers enrolled in this longitudinal study
• Contribute to subject recruitment and retention  
• Help ensure protocol adherence and help with ethics and R&D amendments as required
• Work closely with collaborators on the Developing Human Connectome team at the Centre for the Developing Brain at St Thomas’ Hospital 

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract until 31st May 2025.

• Provide comprehensive support for project coordination  
• Support on scanning days (to consent and acquire interview/questionnaire data) 
• Conduct neurobehavioural and cognitive testing of enrolled participants.  
• In depth involvement in subject recruitment and retention.  
• Assessment scoring and data entry  
• Involvement in all aspects of the project including feedback to parents.  
• Writing reports of assessment if needed for referral to clinical services.  
• Liaising/communication with clinical services were needed.  
• Work as a conscientious and committed member of the team in order to achieve the aims of projects active in the department.  
• Be committed to personal career development. Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be relevant to the role outline.   

Decision making, planning & problem solving:  

• Demonstrate initiative and be proactive within domain of responsibility 
• Contribute to collaborative decision making with colleagues in area of research 
• work independently and flexibly in planning day to day activities in accordance with the project deadlines 
• Write reports of research assessment if needed for referral to clinical services 
• Liaise and communicate with clinical services were needed 

Team work, teaching & learning support:  

• Work effectively with colleagues on joint projects as required  
• Collaborate with academic colleagues on areas of shared research 
•  Support PhD students and academic staff on the project  

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  

1.       Excellent knowledge of common neurobehavioural and cognitive test batteries.  

2.       Established record of administering behavioural tests in young children 

3.       Knowledge and understanding of the project  

4.       Knowledge of neurodevelopment, autism, ADHD and mental health  

5.       Experience in a perinatal/child development and MRI setting 

6.       Confident use of databases including Microsoft Word, Excel and SPSS 

7.       Understanding of safeguarding and risk assessment and management appropriate to the project(s) 

8.       Ability to work independently as well as in a team and flexibility as required  

9.       Ability to show good judgement and common sense  

10.   Self-motivation and industriousness  

This post will be co-supervised by Professor David Edwards and Professor Grainne McAlonan to reflect the collaborative nature of the project.  

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.