Senior Research Fellow - Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research

Location: Life and Mind Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3EL

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

The Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research is a newly funded research centre that has been established to conduct world class research that contributes to a world where differences between children and young people are understood and accepted, strengths are capitalised on, and mental health difficulties are prevented or addressed early in life.

This is an exciting opportunity for two senior research fellows to work on projects that aim to advance the following research aims:

• Understanding how children and young people’s strengths, aptitudes and interests can be identified and capitalised on to promote good mental health and development.
• Identifying the key mechanisms that underpin mental health in children and young people and/or how they can be targeted to deliver effective, accessible and inclusive interventions to promote good mental health or prevent or treat mental health problems in children or young people.

What we offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including: 

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

The post is available on a flexible hybrid basis. The minimum on-site time is 3 days/ week for a full-time post.

About the role

The post is funded until 30^th September 2030 and is based in the Department of Experimental Psychology based at the Life and Mind Building.

You will lead a programme of research and develop research questions within a discrete area of a wider research topic that aligns with the research aims of the Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research (OCEMR). You will manage a research team, resources and budgets. You will develop ideas for generating research income and promoting the research area and write competitive funding applications for specific avenues of independent research. You will play an active role in OCEMR, working closely with and exchanging ideas and best practice with colleagues.

About you

You will hold a PhD/DPhil on a topic that is relevant to the OCEMR research aims. You will possess sufficient specialist knowledge to develop and deliver research projects and methodologies that align with the OCEMR research aims.  You will have an established reputation and publication record in an area that is directly relevant to the OCEMR. You will have experience of meaningful involvement and engagement of children, young people and families in research activities.

Diversity

Committed to equality and valuing diversity, our active Psychiatry People and Culture teams  and initiatives including our values and behaviours framework,  work to make the Department of Psychiatry as supportive, welcoming and inclusive as possible.

Application Process

There is a 3-stage application process for this post. Please refer to the ‘How to apply’ section in the job description for detailed guidance on the application process. 

Interviews will take place between 30^th November 2026 to 10^th December 2026 and will be face to face or online

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