Research Assistant/Research Fellow (STRATA Trial) (103776-0122)

Vacancy Type/Job category
Research Only
Department
Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal & Research
Salary
£27,116 - £30,497 per annum, pro rata; Research Fellow: £31,406 - £40,927 per annum, pro rata
Location
University of Warwick, Coventry
Vacancy Overview
This is a fixed term post starting 01 March 2022.
Part time: 60% for 9 months, then 40% for 10 months.
We are seeking a part-time Research Assistant or Research Fellow to undertake research tasks for the STRATA Trial (SerTRaline for AnxieTy in adults with a diagnosis of Autism). STRATA is a randomised controlled trial (RCT) funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to determine the effectiveness of sertraline in reducing symptoms of anxiety and improving quality of life in adults with autism compared with placebo. 306 participants will be recruited from Autism services across four centres in the UK and one in Australia.
The STRATA research fellow will be the lead research project staff member employed by CEDAR but deployed to work in the East of England within sites located in Hertfordshire, Essex, Buckinghamshire and Norfolk. This means that the successful applicant will work in the East of England for the duration of the project and support the work of CEDAR to develop and enhance its reputation, both internally and externally.
You will have a good (2:1 or 1st class) degree and/or Master’s degree in psychology/health or social care, with a good understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and strong organisational and research skills to support the recruitment and follow-up phases of the STRATA RCT, covering sites within the east of England. If you're applying for the Research Fellow position, you will also have completed or be close to completing a PhD in Psychology/health or social care (or have equivalent research experience).
You will be employed by the University of Warwick and based within Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Norwich, but the role will involve travel throughout the eastern region, and potentially throughout the UK.
If you have not yet been awarded your PhD but are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant on level 5 of the University grade structure (£30,497 pa). Upon successful award of your PhD and evidence of this fact, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure (£31,406 pa).
Interview Date/s: TBC.
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE
To co-ordinate all aspects of recruitment for the trial across the east of England, under the supervision of the study team and the trial manager in collaboration with the wider trial team. Tasks will include organising the recruitment of participants; and data collection at baseline and follow-up, including regular contact with each recruited participant either by phone, Zoom/Skype, email or face-to-face. Liaising closely with service providers and R&D departments at each site. Supporting the work of CEDAR to develop and enhance its reputation, both internally and externally. You may also contribute to other research tasks in CEDAR and contribute to departmental meetings.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Research Assistant
Research and Scholarship
• Contribute to the overall efficient day-to-day delivery of the STRATA trial, working closely with other study team members, including those in the Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration (part of the Bristol Trials Centre), to establish systems and procedures (including database testing) to ensure data quality and completeness is maximised.
• Monitor study progress and audit data collection across sites in the east of England.
• Organise and undertake baseline and follow-up data collection from participants.
• Maintain continuous professional development and review of best practice.
• Undertake training in good clinical practice and maintain a current awareness of research governance and research ethics issues, keeping up to date with relevant research literature and taking up opportunities to expand and update your research skills.
• Ensure compliance with the study protocol.
Administration and other activities
• Provide support to the Trial Manager, Chief Investigator and other study team members, as appropriate, and deal with study-related queries from local research teams and centres.
• Act as one of the main points of contact for STRATA, dealing with enquiries from sites, participants and collaborators referred by the trial administrator or members of the research team as applicable.
• Collect data and administer questionnaires, both face-to-face and by telephone/online as required and contribute to data entry and storage.
• Contribute to organising training events.
• Create and maintain trial site files for reference and inspection by study sponsors and regulatory bodies.
• Help in preparations for project and management meetings.
• Coordinate recruitment of sites and participants including meetings with potential Principal Investigators (PIs) and R&D departments.
• Liaise with and maintain effective working relationships with sites and participants involved in the trial.
• Liaise with relevant University departments, NHS services, charities, social enterprises, to ensure all documentation/registration details are completed, all approvals are in place and are maintained and study is managed in accordance with current legislative and good clinical practice guidelines.
• Participate in department life and may be required to attend departmental meetings.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety in all aspects of work.
• Work within budget constraints.
• To undertake any other necessary tasks for the successful completion of CEDAR research projects on time and to a high quality
Research Fellow
Research and Scholarship
• Contribute to the overall efficient day-to-day delivery of the STRATA trial, working closely with other study team members, including those in the Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration (part of the Bristol Trials Centre), to establish systems and procedures (including database testing) to ensure data quality and completeness is maximised.
• Monitor study progress and audit data collection across sites in the east of England.
• Organise and undertake baseline and follow-up data collection from participants.
• Maintain continuous professional development and review of best practice.
• Undertake training in good clinical practice and maintain a current awareness of research governance and research ethics issues, keeping up to date with relevant research literature and taking up opportunities to expand and update your research skills.
• Contribute to the writing of reports to the bodies that require periodic reports, such as the research ethics committee and funder
• Ensure compliance with the study protocol
• Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the various processes involved in the study and adhere to these SOPs.
• Assist with writing the final report on the trial, preparing papers for publication and submitting posters and presentations for conferences and contribute to the writing of research papers (as lead or co-author) and other project outputs.
Administration and other activities
• Provide support to the Trial Manager, Chief Investigator and other study team members, as appropriate, and deal with study-related queries from local research teams and centres.
• Act as one of the main points of contact for STRATA, dealing with enquiries from sites, participants and collaborators referred by the trial administrator or members of the research team as applicable.
• Collect data and administer questionnaires, both face-to-face and by telephone/online as required and contribute to data entry and storage.
• Contribute to organising (and delivering) training events.
• Create and maintain trial site files for reference and inspection by study sponsors and regulatory bodies
• Help in preparations for project and management meetings, producing presentations and reports.
• Coordinate recruitment of sites and participants including meetings with potential Principal Investigators (PIs) and R&D departments.
• Liaise with and maintain effective working relationships with sites and participants involved in the trial.
• Liaise with relevant University departments, NHS services, charities, social enterprises, to ensure all documentation/registration details are completed, all approvals are in place and are maintained and study is managed in accordance with current legislative and good clinical practice guidelines.
• Participate in department life and may be required to attend departmental meetings.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety in all aspects of work.
• Work within budget constraints.
• To undertake any other necessary tasks for the successful completion of CEDAR research projects on time and to a high quality.

Person Specification

The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.

Essential Criteria 1
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Good honours degree (minimum upper second) in psychology/health or social care. (a)
Essential Criteria 2
Research Fellow: A PhD on applied research in Psychology/health or social care, or equivalent level and length of research experience (or otherwise near completion of PhD). (a)
Essential Criteria 3
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Strong commitment to autism/mental health research. (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 4
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Ability to effectively communicate and engage adults with an autism diagnosis. (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 5
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Experience of working on a randomised controlled trial. (a, c)
Essential Criteria 6
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Experience of recruiting to adult autism studies. (a, c)
Essential Criteria 7
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 8
Research Fellow: Good understanding of quantitative and qualitative methods applied to Psychology/health/social care research. (a, c)
Essential Criteria 9
Research Assistant: Relevant understanding of quantitative and qualitative methods applied to Psychology/health/social care research. (a, c)
Essential Criteria 10
Research Fellow: Evidence of contributing to high quality research outputs including papers in peer review journals. (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 11
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a part of a multidisciplinary team . (a, c)
Essential Criteria 12
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Experience of quantitative data collection and reporting. (a, c)
Essential Criteria 13
Research Assistant: Some experience of managing own workload and taking responsibility for own actions. (a, c)
Essential Criteria 14
Research Fellow: Experience of managing own workload and taking responsibility for own actions independently. (a, c)
Essential Criteria 15
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Familiarity with ethical and legal requirements for medical research. (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 1
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: A Master’s degree in Psychology/Education, research methods, or a closely related discipline. (a)
Desirable Criteria 2
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Experience of working on Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPS). (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 3
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Experience of working on non-Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (non-CTIMPS). (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 4
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Experience of presentations and national and international conferences. (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 5
Research Assistant and Research Fellow: Experience of qualitative analysis methods. (a, c)
Further Particulars
For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars .
For further information about CEDAR and our current research please see our website .
The Post
You will work as a part of the team for the STRATA study with Professor Peter Langdon at the University of Warwick, and with project partners throughout England. You will also be a member of the main Project Team with all project partners.
You will report to Professor Peter Langdon.
We are particularly encouraging applications from people under-represented in our department.
Right to work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK points-based immigration system please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.
The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy

As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.

Closing Date
18 Feb 2022