Research Fellow (Mental Health Mission MTC - Psychosis)

Salary: As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £38,784

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract up to Dec 2027

Background

People with severe mental illness (SMI) die around 15 years earlier than the general population, largely due to preventable physical health conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Existing physical health prediction tools are widely used in the general population but perform poorly in young people with SMI, meaning a high-risk and underserved group can miss opportunities for prevention.

The Psychosis Metabolic Risk Calculator (PsyMetRiC) addresses this gap. PsyMetRiC is the first physical health prediction tool developed specifically for young people with SMI, underpinned by interdisciplinary research across data science, epidemiology and qualitative methods. Co-produced with patients, clinicians and stakeholders, PsyMetRiC has been translated into a user-friendly web application designed to support understandable risk communication and shared decision-making.

PsyMetRiC has recently received UK regulatory certification for real-world clinical use and is included in several current and forthcoming national clinical guidelines and policy statements.

The Role

We are seeking a full-time Research Fellow with expertise in implementation science, project management and/or applied health research to join the Psychosis Theme of the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre.

The post-holder will:

• Work primarily on the PsyMetRiC project and support the wider psychosis research portfolio.
• Lead and support implementation and impact evaluation studies of PsyMetRiC.
• Generate evidence to inform the ongoing research–implementation cycle, where evidence, design and impact continuously shape one another.
• Contribute to protocols, ethics applications, data governance, analysis, dissemination and academic outputs.
• Work with national and international collaborators across mental health, data science, implementation science and regulatory science.

Research Environment

The post-holder will join the multidisciplinary PsyMetRiC team, led by Dr Benjamin Perry, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist in Birmingham Early Intervention Services. The role offers opportunities to develop skills in:

• Epidemiology and data science
• Qualitative research
• Implementation and impact evaluation
• Regulatory compliance for digital/software/AI health products
• Commercialisation and translation of research

Support and Career Development

The appointee will be supported across the full research pathway, including protocol development, data access, analysis, manuscript preparation and dissemination. They will be recognised on academic outputs, with opportunities for primary authorship and presentation at national and international conferences.

The role offers a supportive environment with opportunities to co-supervise junior researchers and PhD students, contribute to teaching, and develop independent career ambitions including grant and fellowship applications.

Person Specification

Applicants should have:

• A first degree and PhD completed, or near completion, in a relevant subject area.
• Experience managing research, health-related projects, grants, trials or similar work.
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills.
• Understanding of research data management, governance and ethics.
• An interest in mental health research, implementation science and collaborative applied health research.

Informal enquiries can be made to {Benjamin Perry b.i.perry@bham.ac.uk} 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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