Research Assistant: Psychopharmacology and Emotion Research Laboratory (PERL) (2 posts)

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

The Department of Psychiatry is based on the Warneford Hospital site in Oxford – a friendly, welcoming place of work with an international reputation for excellence. The Department has a substantial research programme, with major funding from Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and provides highly rated medical training in psychiatry. The Head of Department is Professor Belinda Lennox.

We are looking to recruit 2 research assistants to work on a programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Wellcome Trust exploring the effects of conventional antidepressants and novel therapeutic strategies in depression. 

About the Role

The post is funded for 12 months and is based in the Department of Psychiatry at the Warneford Hospital.  

Due to the nature of the role, flexible hybrid working is not available for this post.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the research project. You will recruit and screen patients with depression as well as healthy participants. Outcome measures involve changes in cognition and emotional processing, measured using fMRI, behavioural cognitive testing and physiological measures. This study will require adherence to Good Clinical Practice and liaison with medical and nursing professionals at the NIHR Clinical Research Faculty.

About You

You will have a first degree in relevant discipline (e.g. Neuroscience, Psychology). Demonstrable research experience, including the ability to independently manage the day-to-day running of a research project including scheduling assessment sessions and liaising with other researchers and staff at multiple sites is essential. You will also possess sufficient specialist knowledge in cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology or clinical psychology and experience running psychological tasks in human participants. A Master’s degree in a relevant subject and experience of analysing fMRI data would be desirable.

Diversity

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

Our active Psychiatry People and Culture teams  and initiatives including our values and behaviours framework, work to make the Department of Psychiatry as supportive, welcoming and inclusive as possible.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. Please see the University pages on the application process at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/application-process

The closing date for applications is 12:00 midday on 4 December 2025

Interviews will take place on 17 December 2025 and will be face to face

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