Research Associate

We are looking for a Research Associate to join the world class Psychosis Group in the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics in the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine.

The role will be required to generate and exploit genomic findings in psychosis to advance our understanding of the biology underpinning the disorders and/or understand how genetic variation influences variation in their clinical presentation, trajectory, and treatment outcomes. The post is funded by the National Institute of Health (USA) within the framework of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium which involves hundreds of investigators across the globe. The position offers access to the world’s largest psychiatric genomic datasets, and provides a rare opportunity to work directly with, and in collaboration with, multiple field leaders of the discipline.
We’d like to hear from you if you have:

• A PhD (or nearing submission) in a field relevant to genomic studies of complex traits (including genomic bioinformatics or functional genomics), or in the phenomics of psychosis. Demonstrably equivalent industrial experience is an acceptable alternative to the PhD requirement. Experience in psychiatric phenotype data collection or curation will be an advantage but is not essential. 
• The ability to manipulate large datasets for linking complex trait associated genetic variation to phenotypic outcomes and/or altered biological function in genes, cells, or humans.

This post is based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus. 

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Michael O’Donovan on [email protected]   

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 01.02.2024 and fixed term until 28.02.2026

Salary: £39,347 - £44,263 per annum (Grade 6). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

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.

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.

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

Closing date: Thursday, 29 February 2024