Research Assistant (Part Time, Fixed Term)

John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair 

An opportunity has arisen for a dedicated and enthusiastic individual with an interest in Parkinson's disease to join Dr Caroline Williams-Gray and Professor Roger Barker's teams as a research assistant in the Clinical Neurosciences department at the University of Cambridge. The lab works at the interface of clinical and laboratory science, aiming to better understand the clinical variability of Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease and the underlying biological basis of this, with a view to developing more targeted and personalized therapies. The successful candidate will play a critical role in supporting the Cambridge Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic and the regional Huntington's disease clinic, maintaining our clinical research databases.   

The post holder will have the opportunity to work with people with Parkinson's and Huntington's across a broad range of disease stages from prodromal to late stage. They will gain extensive experience in clinical research, including performing clinical and neuropsychological assessments and collecting and processing biosamples, and will develop skills in database curation and analysis of clinical cohort data. They will have the opportunity to assist with clinical trial recruitment and conduct.  

We seek applicants with a degree in biological sciences or psychology. The successful candidate will have experience in a patient-facing role, and previous research experience in neurodegenerative disorders. The post holder will be required to work flexibly within a clinical and scientific team of research assistants, doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers and clinicians. They will be expected to demonstrate a compassionate and thoughtful manner in their approach to both patients and their families, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and to have meticulous approach to data and record keeping. 

The post is available at 60% full-time equivalent for a 1-year period initially (subject to review).  

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. This appointment also requires a Research Passport application. 

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

For questions relating to the post, please contact Dr Caroline Williams-Gray via email: [email protected]  

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

Closing Date: 14th September 2026

Interview Date: to be confirmed

Please quote reference RR50844 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.