Postdoctoral Research Associate 0.7FTE - Grade 7

Hours of work: Part-time – 0.7FTE

Tenure: Fixed term until  October 2028 

We are seeking an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to join our child neurodevelopment research programme at the University of Liverpool. The post will primarily support Children Growing Up in Liverpool (C-GULL) and Healthy Brains, Healthy Futures (HBHF), the Liverpool arm of the Wellcome-funded ANXIOMICS programme, alongside a 0.25 FTE role supporting the international FEVER II study.

C-GULL is a large contemporary birth cohort following up to 3-4,000 infants. Nested within C-GULL, HBHF is investigating early predictors of anxiety in approximately 700 children through neuroimaging, immune profiling and behavioural and developmental assessments. The postholder will work closely with the C-GULL and HBHF teams in Liverpool and the ANXIOMICS lead team at the University of Cambridge.

Working under the supervision of Professor Melissa Gladstone, you will take scientific and methodological responsibility for aspects of the behavioural and developmental assessment programme. This will include supporting quality assurance of neurodevelopmental assessments, developing assessment manuals and standard operating procedures, training and calibrating assessors, and contributing to the design of behavioural and developmental assessments for future follow-up. You will also have opportunities to analyse C-GULL data, contribute to publications and develop new research and funding proposals building on the C-GULL/HBHF platform.

For 0.25 FTE of the role, you will contribute to FEVER II, an international programme preparing for a clinical trial investigating neuroprotection and long-term neurological and developmental outcomes following severe CNS malaria in children in Malawi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You will provide technical support for neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive assessments, including translation and piloting of assessment tools, staff training, quality assurance and harmonisation of assessment approaches across study sites.

You should have a PhD, or be close to completion, in psychology, neuroscience, developmental science, medicine or a related discipline, and ideally have experience of standardised neurodevelopmental or behavioural assessment in infants or young children. Experience of longitudinal or cohort research, data analysis, research proposal development, global child health or cross-cultural assessment would be advantageous.

You will need excellent communication, organisational and scientific writing skills, an ability to work independently within multidisciplinary and international research teams, and a strong commitment to high-quality research. Good Clinical Practice certification, or willingness to undertake this, will also be required.

This is an exciting opportunity for a researcher wishing to develop an independent profile in child neurodevelopmental and perinatal research while contributing to major UK and international studies addressing child development, mental health and neurological outcomes.

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30. Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Closing Date: 29 September 2026 23:30

For full details and to apply online, please click on the apply button above.

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