Research Associate - Neuroimaging Department

Role purpose:

To facilitate outstanding clinical neuroimaging research in psychosis and schizophrenia populations as part of the “Psychosis MRI Shared Database (Psy-ShareD) funded by the UK Medical Research Council

The aim of this project is to combine high quality, valuable, underutilised pre-existing ‘legacy’ MRI T1 datasets, with linked clinical and cognitive data into one free-to-access resource.

The post holder will be under the guidance of Prof Paul Allen and part of a broad team of experts in brain imaging, cognition, data modelling, and psychiatric disorders. This team is working in collaboration with a number of UK and international sites that will each provide MRI, and linked clinical and cognitive data to the Psy-ShareD database.   Subsequently, the post holder will be adept in the data skills and harmonisation, curation, and analysis of complex multidimensional datasets, have excellent communication skills and be able to work within strict deadlines.

In addition, the post holder will be expected to:

• Lead on the development transfer and harmonisation of several international MRI datasets.
• Oversee the setting-up phase of the Psy-ShareD database in accordance with the project timelines.
• Provide project progress updates to academic colleagues and the wider Psy-ShareD team.
• Support colleagues in the Psy-ShareD team including research assistants and lab placement students.
• Develop own interests in the fields of computational psychiatry, cognitive science, and brain imaging and undertake a proof of concept analysis using the Psy-ShareD database that addresses a current knowledge gap in the psychosis/schizophrenia MRI literature.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract until 03-Apr-2025

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

• Key responsibilities and objectives of the job.   
• Work with the Psy-ShareD team and collaborators to oversee data transfer via BitBox.
• Support software and script development of novel tools that aid data anonymisation and transfer.
• Harmonise and curate datasets including MRI T1, clinical, and cognitive data.  
• Set up the Psy-ShareD database using KCL FigShare or a similar host system.
• Lead on a proof of concept analysis using Psy-ShareD data.
• Work as a conscientious and committed member within a broad team of KCL experts, KCL admin support and industry collaborators.
• Regularly present updates and research findings to academic colleagues and the broader project team.
• Work in an efficient manner to ensure progress accords with the project timelines and milestones.
• Liaise with the administrative team to support the project. 
• Supporting the team’s research assistant and placement students in data analysis, visualisation, and scientific writing. 
• Contribute to publications arising from this project.
• Be committed to personal career development.   

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.

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