Postdoctoral Research Associate - Neuroimaging

About us

The Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences (CNS) at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, is a world-leading research centre specialising in neuroimaging and psychopharmacology. Our multidisciplinary teams combine expertise in neuroscience, psychiatry, imaging, and pharmacology to explore how drugs and psychiatric conditions influence brain function and behaviour. With state-of-the-art MRI, PET, and EEG facilities, the CNS provides a dynamic environment for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mental health and the effects of novel pharmacological compounds. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge translational research within one of the UK's leading research centres.

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with expertise in psychopharmacology and an interest in cannabinoid/cannabis, paranoia, psychiatry, and neuroscience to join our team at the CNS led by Prof Mitul Mehta and Dr Amir Englund. You will work within a wider project funded by the Wellcome Trust that will test the social and non-social cognitive mechanisms underlying paranoia across social context, under the influence of the main active component of cannabis (THC), and in those who are seeking support for psychosis.

This postdoctoral role will involve leading and coordinating a series of experimental psychopharmacology studies, including two studies involving THC administration in healthy volunteers and one patient-facing study involving patients experiencing paranoia. These studies aim to explore how parameters in a computational model of paranoia may be influenced by THC administration or in support-seeking participants under sober conditions. The postholder will collect a range of psychopharmacology, clinical, imaging, and general population data in a multidisciplinary research environment. The postholder will work under the supervision of PI Prof Mitul Mehta (KCL) and Co-I Amir Englund (KCL), and also benefit from the supervision of Co-I Dr Joseph M Barnby (Perth), Co-I Dr Michael Moutoussis (UCL), and Co-I Syeda Tahir (KCL).

This role will provide you with the freedom to develop new and creative ideas, methodologies, and/or approaches to challenging important questions of interest to the lab. In addition to leading the project, you will be supported in finding a research area that interests you, encouraged to develop a research programme of your own, and apply for independent funding. The postdoctoral researcher will also have teaching opportunities if this is of interest. You will be primarily based at the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences (KCL, London, UK).

Importantly, we adopt a flexible working environment within the lab and are happy to organise working arrangements that suite your individual needs. We enjoy diversity of thought, ideas, and experience within the lab and approach our work with the same mindset.

This role will involve:

• Setting up and running two experimental drug studies in healthy volunteers and one in patient populations.
• Be involved in all aspects of the research: recruitment, data collection, management, public and patient involvement, imaging processing, and analysis.
• Liaise with collaborators to assist with study conduct.
• Writing manuscripts in to disseminate research findings.
• Present summaries of study updates at internal meetings and meetings with external collaborators, and at national and international conferences.
• Mentoring undergraduate, masters, and PhD students within the Department of Neuroimaging.
• Collaborating with the wider team in order to achieve the aims of the project.
• Managing and organising own workload. It is the postdoc's responsibility to make sure that deadlines are met and the necessary resources are available for the job at hand.
• Working with Prof Mitul Mehta and Dr Amir Englund and the wider team to develop novel research questions and theories of interest. This will be highly encouraged.
• Other relevant activities as directed by the line manager.

This is a full-time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31th August 2029.

About you

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

Essential criteria

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area: Cognitive Science, Psychopharmacology, Neuroimaging, Neuroscience or related disciplines.*
• Previous experience in clinical trials or experimental psychopharmacology research
• Knowledge and prior experience of data collection in clinical support-seeking participants
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) in clinical trials and knowledge of Research Governance Frameworks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Good organisational and time management skills, including ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.

Desirable criteria

• Scripting skills and experience in one or more open-source languages (e.g. Python, R)
• Prior experience/knowledge of cannabis research or cannabinoid psychopharmacology
• Experience in the use of neuroimaging analysis (fMRI, MRI) to study mechanisms of brain function
• Previous experience with data collection in those within the psychosis spectrum (e.g. clinical high risk/schizophrenia)
• Previous experience and knowledge of research methods and study design in clinical trials/experimental/psychopharmacology

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 person specification section of the job description. 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.

Interviews are due to be held on at the end of January.

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