Research Assistant

About us:

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London is a world-leading centre for mental health research, education, and clinical innovation. The Department of Psychosis Studies is internationally recognised for its research into the causes, mechanisms, and treatment of psychotic disorders. 

This role sits within a clinical-academic research group focused on the interface between mental and physical health in severe mental illness (SMI), with a particular emphasis on cardiometabolic risk, advanced imaging, and service development. The group’s work spans mechanistic research, including cardiac MRI studies in psychosis, through to the development of novel clinical services aimed at improving physical health outcomes and reducing health inequalities in people with SMI.

The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team across King’s College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, collaborating with clinicians and researchers in psychiatry, cardiology, endocrinology, and allied health disciplines. 

About the role:

We are seeking a motivated and organised Research Assistant to support a portfolio of clinical research and service development projects focused on physical health in severe mental illness.

The postholder will play a key role in the delivery of the CARDIO-PSY study, which investigates cardiac structure and function in people with first-episode psychosis using cardiac MRI. This will involve supporting participant recruitment, coordinating study visits, and undertaking patient-facing research activities under appropriate clinical supervision, including interviews and physical health assessments.

The role will also contribute to the development and evaluation of the TUNE-UP service, a new specialist weight management programme for people with SMI. This will include supporting the set-up and coordination of research data collection systems, ensuring high-quality and systematic data capture, and contributing to ongoing service evaluation through monitoring of recruitment, engagement, and outcomes.

In addition, the postholder will support literature reviews and academic outputs related to the physical health of people with SMI.

This is a varied role that combines patient-facing research, data coordination, and contribution to academic outputs, and would suit someone interested in clinical research at the interface of mental and physical health.

This is a full-time post (35 Hours), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 12 months. 

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. 

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience: 

Essential criteria

• BA in a relevant field (e.g. psychology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, public health).
• Experience working in a research setting, including participant recruitment and/or data collection.
• Experience of working with clinical populations or in healthcare settings.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including confidence interacting with patients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with data management and use of research databases.
• Understanding of research governance, ethics, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Interviews are due to be held on 11th June 2026

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearances.

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