Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences

About us

Working as part of a world-class academic team based in the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), the successful candidate will play a central role in the delivery of a high-profile collaborative research project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

About the role

Applications are invited from highly motivated and talented candidates for a position of Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work on an NIHR-funded project evaluating Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (C(E)TRs) for people with a learning disability and autistic people (the OptiCaT project). C(E)TRs were introduced in 2015 as a key intervention in ensuring that people with a learning disability or who are autistic receive the right support in the community and do not spend too long in hospital, if they are admitted. The impact of C(E)TRs on clinical and other outcomes has not been extensively studied.

The OptiCaT research programme takes a mixed methods approach. The successful applicant will have a key role in the qualitative work package which aims to understand multi-stakeholder perspectives of the C(E)TR process and how this may be improved. This will include participant recruitment through various means, data acquisition (primarily through individual semi-structured interviews), data analysis, and working with the research team and PPI co-researchers to interpret the data and disseminate findings.

In addition, the successful applicant will work with the team to deliver a prospective study within NHS services that investigates the current use and impact of C(E)TRs amongst children and adults with a learning disability or who are autistic. This will include recruitment activities, liaison with study sites, and conducting baseline and follow-up participant assessments. The post-holder will be supported in these tasks by the wider research team and Clinical Studies Officers.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until February 2028. The role will be based at the main IoPPN building at the Denmark Hill campus of KCL.

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

• PhD in relevant area (awarded or near completion).
• Substantial experience of using qualitive methods and undertaking qualitative analysis.
• Experience of working with diverse populations and with people with intellectual disability and/or autistic people.
• Experience of applied clinical research in the NHS.
• Awareness and understanding of practical and ethical issues involved in mental health research studies.
• Ability to publish in peer-reviewed academic journals as evidenced by journal publications and/or conference abstracts.
• Willingness and ability to work flexibly, according to the needs of the project, including travelling to research sites.
• Motivated and self-disciplined and with excellent time-management and organizational skills.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of coordinating large, multi-stranded research projects.
• Evidence of working successfully with Patient and Public Involvement groups through a range of activities.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our 'How we Recruit' pages.

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

Interviews are due to be held on week commencing 5th January 2026.