Research Assistant in the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Closing date: 08 October 2023

Location: Denmark Hill Campus

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated pre-doctoral Research Assistant to join an exciting new four-year Wellcome Trust-funded programme (METROPOLIS) under the overall direction of Dr Daniel Michelson. The programme aims to advance understanding about the effectiveness and mechanisms of problem solving (PS) and behavioural activation (BA) when delivered by peer counsellors as early interventions for young people with depression. Both PS and BA have the potential to be used as brief and effective standalone interventions, yet they have rarely been evaluated outside of multi-component packages. METROPOLIS will investigate these active ingredients in India, which is home to 20% of the world’s youth population, focusing on university students from disadvantaged groups in New Delhi.  

The post-holder will be based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, joining Europe’s largest grouping of youth-focused mental health scientists, clinical academics and researchers at the newly established Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People. Project partners include Sangath NGO, Jindal Global University, Youth for Mental Health, and Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The post will entail regular remote working with the India-based team and periodic international travel to research sites in New Delhi.  

The successful candidate will play a vital role in the coordination of the programme, assisting with an array of research activities and providing seamless administrative support. They will be expected to register for a part-time PhD concurrently with their salaried Research Assistant position. The specific focus of the PhD will be decided in agreement with the principal investigator and prospective co-supervisors. It is expected to fit within at least one of four METROPOLIS work packages: (i) participatory adaptation of PS and BA protocols for a target population of university students experiencing subthreshold and case-level depression; (ii) development of measures to assess hypothesised mediators; (iii) a 3-arm, individually randomised controlled trial that compares outcomes and mediation effects for peer-delivered PS, BA and an attention control condition; and (iv) a realist process evaluation that uses qualitative interviews to investigate participants’ perspectives on intervention outcomes and mechanisms. 

We are looking for candidates with postgraduate research experience in a relevant field. The post-holder also requires excellent organisational skills, meticulous attention to detail and outstanding communication abilities. These attributes will be critical for collaborating effectively with a diverse international team; coordinating complex time-sensitive tasks across multiple workstreams and institutions; and simultaneously completing independent PhD research. Enthusiasm for youth mental health research and a commitment to a (clinical) academic career track are essential. 

Candidates should submit their application along with a CV and cover letter containing a concise description of their research interests, experience and career goals.

Informal enquiries can be directed to Dr Daniel Michelson (daniel.michelson@kcl.ac.uk) 

This post will be offered on a part time 60%FTE post until 3rd December 2027.

The successful candidate will be able to register concurrently for a part-time PhD, for which fees will be covered by the programme budget at the discounted rate for KCL staff. Please note: A separate PhD stipend will not be payable in addition to the salaried part-time position.

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