Peer Researcher - COMBINER Study

Type: 2 years fixed term contract

Location: Working remotely and at the University of Birmingham

Hours: Part time (15 hours per week)

Are you interested in working on research focused on bipolar that champions lived experience? Do you have experience of research methods and facilitating involvement in research?

We are looking for a peer researcher who has a first-hand understanding of bipolar to help us deliver the COMBINER project.  This is an opportunity for someone with a personal history of bipolar themselves, either as a service user or carer for someone with bipolar who is looking to gain experience in public involvement and conducting peer research in a mental health trial.  They will have an interest in public involvement in mental health research and a good understanding of research principles, perhaps through university studies.  The post will involve working alongside both young people and adults with lived experience of bipolar, as well as NHS clinicians and university-based academics.

This project is specifically located at the University of Birmingham with the COMBINER trial team (the post-holder will be seconded to work with them) led by Professor Steven Marwaha.  COMBINER is a two-year study comparing three treatments for bipolar disorder: lithium alone, quetiapine alone, and lithium plus quetiapine together. We want to find out whether taking both medications helps people stay well for longer than taking just one.  The trial has been funded by the National Institute of Health Research, and we have recently started recruiting participants.

Our team is committed to transforming mental health research through collaboration, inclusion and a belief in equity and anti-oppressive behaviour.  We strongly encourage applications from Black people, People of Colour, people who are LGBTQIA+, those with a disability and those who identify themselves in marginalised groups, as well as people with lived experience of mental health issues.

We offer benefits including a competitive salary, hybrid/flexible working, a NEST Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution, wellbeing support and mentoring scheme, an individual training budget and access to an Employee Assistance Programme and healthcare cash plan with Hospital Saturday Fund. You can find out more about us at www.mcpin.org.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 6th January 2026, 9 am.  Interviews will take place on the week commencing 19th January 2026.

To apply, please click on the button below to download an application form.

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