Graduate Research Assistant

Location: Life and Mind Building

Candidates with a good degree in psychology or related discipline are invited to apply for the post of Graduate Research Assistant at the Department of Experimental Psychology. 

The postholders will work closely with Drs Kirsten Smith, Kali Barawi and Profs Jennifer Wild and Anke Ehlers on the feasibility randomised controlled trial investigating Internet Cognitive Therapy for Prolonged Grief Disorder (ICT-PG).

The successful applicant will play a key role in supporting the delivery of the trial, including the recruitment and screening of prospective participants in line with study inclusion and exclusion criteria. They will coordinate appointments for assessments and interviews, support data collection, and ensure that study procedures are conducted in accordance with the research protocol. The postholder will contribute to the maintenance of study databases, including data entry, checking, and cleaning, and will assist with the preparation of reports and research outputs.

The role involves conducting structured clinical interviews with prospective participants who may have Prolonged Grief Disorder, supporting clinical assessments, and assisting with the administration of Drs Smith’s and Barawi’s clinical caseload under appropriate supervision.

The postholder will work closely with clinicians, research teams, and NHS services, and will liaise with web developers and users to support the functionality and ongoing development of the internet-delivered therapy platform.

The post is part-time working 30 hours per week (0.8% fte) and is fixed term until 31 May 2027 in the first instance.

Applicants should ideally have some experience in filming and editing video content, working with HTML and/or CSS, and supporting websites or digital platforms. Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills are essential, along with strong computer literacy and familiarity with standard software packages. A working knowledge of statistics and experimental design, and experience using statistical software such as SPSS or R, are desirable. Prior experience working with bereaved individuals would be an advantage.

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being an inclusive institution where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a supporting statement addressing the selection criteria, your CV, and the contact details of two referees as part of your application. For further details please refer to the “How to apply” section of the job description.

The closing date for applications is midday on 20 February 2026 and only applications received by this date will be considered. 

If you would like further information about this role please email: grief@psy.ox.ac.uk

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