Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences

About us

Working as part of a world-class academic team based in the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), the successful candidate will play a central role in the delivery of a high-profile collaborative research project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

About the role

Applications are invited from highly motivated and talented candidates for a position of Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work on an NIHR-funded project evaluating Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (C(E)TRs) for people with a learning disability and autistic people (the OptiCaT project). C(E)TRs were introduced in 2015 as a key intervention in ensuring that people with a learning disability or who are autistic receive the right support in the community and do not spend too long in hospital, if they are admitted. The impact of C(E)TRs on clinical and other outcomes has not been extensively studied.

The OptiCaT research programme takes a mixed methods approach. The successful applicant will have a key role in the qualitative work package which aims to understand multi-stakeholder perspectives of the C(E)TR process and how this may be improved. This will include participant recruitment through various means, data acquisition (primarily through individual semi-structured interviews), data analysis, and working with the research team and PPI co-researchers to interpret the data and disseminate findings.

In addition, the successful applicant will work with the team to deliver a prospective study within NHS services that investigates the current use and impact of C(E)TRs amongst children and adults with a learning disability or who are autistic. This will include recruitment activities, liaison with study sites, and conducting baseline and follow-up participant assessments. The post-holder will be supported in these tasks by the wider research team and Clinical Studies Officers.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered  a fixed term contract until February 2028. The role will be based at the main IoPPN building at the Denmark Hill campus of KCL.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

Advert information