Research Assistant

The UCL Dementia Research Centre, based in the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, is a hub for clinical research into various forms of dementia. Our work focuses on identifying and understanding the disease processes that cause dementia, the factors that influence these disease processes, and how best to support people with dementia and their families. In addition to our research, we also provide a cognitive disorders clinic within the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

The Multimodal Parkinson’s disease group within the Dementia Research Centre is a dynamic and friendly group, working to understand how dementia happens in Parkinson’s and related diseases. We use a combination of neuroimaging, PET imaging, psychology and blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers to address this.

We are now recruiting a Research Assistant to be part of a research programme dedicated to the detailed clinical, neuropsychological, and MRI characterisation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). The programme aims to understand the mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease and LBD and provide evidence for future clinical trials in these common and debilitating conditions.

You will assist with the management of data collected from participants in this project including imaging analysis. Duties will include helping with the co-ordination of the study, participant screening and recruitment, neuropsychological testing of people with PD and LBD, taking blood samples for people with PD and LBD, data curation and image analysis focusing on structural, diffusion tensor imaging, resting state functional MRI, and quantitative MRI scans.

An honorary contract will be sought from UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, for which a DBS check will be required.

The post is funded by Race Against Dementia and a Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) grant until 14 November 2026 in the first instance.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, or have any queries regarding the application process, please contact the Institute of Neurology HR Team (ion.hradmin at ucl.ac.uk).

Informal enquiries regarding the role can be addressed to Dr Angeliki Zarkali (a.zarkali at ucl.ac.uk).

We expect to hold interviews on 30 July 2025.

For a full job description and to apply for this role please visit UCL’s online recruitment portal (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs) and search using vacancy reference B02-08978.

You’ll have an honours degree (minimum 2:1) in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related subject, experience of database management, and knowledge of medical statistics and data processing and analysis. The ability to independently take bloods (phlebotomy), experience of conducting neuropsychological and motor assessments in adult populations, and excellent interpersonal, communication, and prioritisation skills are also essential for this role.

Starting salary offered at £38,607 - £41,255 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits; visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. 12% of Institute staff are actively working on EDI initiatives; visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ion/equality-diversity-inclusion for more information about what we’re doing. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce; these include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ and gender diverse people in all roles, and women in Grade 9 and 10 roles.

Customer advert reference: B02-08978

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