Research Assistant

Advert

Research Assistant
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

We are looking for a Research Assistant to join the National Centre for Mental Health team in the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at the Cardiff University School of Medicine.  The successful candidate will undertake research on studies that fall under the NCMH portfolio. Specifically, the successful candidate will split their time between two main studies/workstreams, with the first being a study looking at student mental health as part of an MRC funded collaborative project with a number of other Universities across the UK. The remaining fifty percent of the successful candidate's time will be devoted to carrying out supporting work within NCMH’s intervention development workstream. They will be involved in the evaluation of digital guided self-help programmes for prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).

In this role, you will:

• support research in student mental health and the development and evaluation of psychological interventions for trauma-related disorders.
• undertake research by planning, preparing, setting up and conducting research via a range of methods such as questionnaires, interviews and focus groups.
• actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research with internal and external partners.

We’d like to hear from you if you:

• Knowledge and experience of research methods and techniques within mental health research.
• Proven communication skills.
• Excellent organisational and team-working skills.

Please contact Dr Catrin Lewis (LewisCE7

@cardiff.ac.uk

) for an informal, confidential discussion about the role.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 15th February 2024 and fixed term until 31st August 2025 based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus. 

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.

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.

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’), 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:

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

Date closed: 18 January 2024

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:  Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Job Description

Job Purpose
To contribute to research within the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH), carrying out supporting work in student mental health, the development and evaluation of psychological interventions for trauma-related disorders and contributing to work that helps lead to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties

•    To undertake research, e.g. by planning, preparing, setting up, conducting) research via a range of methods such as questionnaires, interviews and focus groups.
•    To participate actively 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.

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.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1.    A degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.    Knowledge of research methods and techniques within mental health.
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 bodies.

Communication and Team Working
5.    Proven communication skills, including presentation to various audiences.
6.    Excellent organisational and team-working skills.

Other
7.    Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and teamworking within work.

Desirable Criteria 

1.    Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience.
2.    Relevant experience of working in a health or mental health setting.
3.    Evidence of collaborations with industry.
4.    Proven ability to work without close supervision.
5.    Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community. 

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria
Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria.

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 you application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance, 17924BR

Job Category

Academic - Research