Research Assistant

About us:

The Addictions Department.  The emphasis of our research is on ‘what works’ in the prevention and treatment of substance misuse: the Addictions Department represents a network of clinicians, researchers and clinical teachers who have a shared commitment to excellence in prevention and treatment work, and to supporting and strengthening national and international endeavours in this field. Over the last 30 years, our staff have developed a body of research evidence that has informed the development of new treatment services for alcohol, smoking and drug problems in the UK. This work ranges from trials of new therapies and preventative treatments to studies seeking to understand the genetic and biological basis of addictive behaviour.

The Addictions Department is one of the most productive addictions research groups in Europe. We represent an important area of health-related study as the Addictions Clinical Academic Group (CAG) within King’s Health Partners, and form one of the core areas of the Academic Health Science Centre that brings together university partners King’s College London with the NHS from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital, and Guy’s and St Thomas’. RAND Europe rated our work on Substance Abuse Research as leading in the field. Substance Use Disorders is one of the main themes of the NIHR Maudsley BRC which is based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN).

About the role:

The post holder will play a key role in the delivery of the NIHR-funded MEDCO trial, a large multi-site randomised controlled trial designed to determine whether a prescription stimulant (lisdexamfetamine) and an atypical anti-depressant (mirtazapine) can achieve a greater number of cocaine-abstinent days compared with placebo in people with cocaine use disorder over a 24-week period. The post-holder will be a member of staff at the Addictions Dept (school of academic psychiatry, Institute of psychiatry, psychology & neuroscience, King’s College London) and also based at Lorraine Hewitt House (LHH, specialist NHS treatment provider for addictions operated by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust). The post Holder will report to the head of department for addictions and support the trial chief investigator at LHH.

The role will involve working across all aspects of the research study as part of a multi-disciplinary team, including but not limited to screening & enrolling new participants, scheduling and conducting trial visits, collecting research data in line with study protocols, entry of research data into an online electronic case report form, maintaining accurate study records and liaising with the neuroimaging centre to organise MRI scans for participants. The post holder will work closely with the senior investigators and the central research team to ensure the trial is delivered in accordance with the approved protocol, regulatory requirements, and Good Clinical Practice, contributing to high-quality data collection and the smooth day-to-day running of the trial.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed-term contract until 30th September 2029.

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 & Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the  Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

Interviews are due to be held 2 weeks after advert closure date.

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