Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Addictions - Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Addictions - Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

About us

The National Addiction Centre (NAC), incorporating the Addictions Department at King’s College London, is one of the most productive addictions research groups in Europe. We also explore an important area of health-related study as the Addictions Clinical Academic Group (CAG) within King’s Health Partners, and form one of the core areas of the Academic Health Science Centre that brings together university partners King’s College London with the NHS from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust , King’s College Hospital , and Guy’s and St Thomas’ . RAND Europe rated our work on Substance Abuse Research as leading in the field, and Substance Use is one of the identified themes of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health which is based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN).

About you

The purpose of this role is to support the successful delivery of a mixed‑methods research study, contributing to all stages of the project’s design, implementation, data collection, and dissemination. Working under the supervision of senior members of the BUILD2depot research team, the post holder plays a central role in ensuring the study is conducted to a high scientific and ethical standard. They are responsible for supporting development activities, including staff training and the preparation of research governance documentation such as ethics applications. The role also involves close liaison with participating clinical services and research staff to promote effective recruitment, adherence to protocol, and timely completion of data collection across sites.

A key component of the post involves conducting clinical and research procedures, including screening participants and supporting buprenorphine low‑dose induction sessions within the Clinical Research Facility. The post holder will also undertake telephone research interviews, enter and manage interview data, and contribute to the design, cleaning, and analysis of the study database. They will assist with identifying, monitoring, and reporting adverse and serious adverse events, ensuring that all activity is in line with governance frameworks and protocol guidelines.

The researcher will analyse both quantitative and qualitative data and contribute to the dissemination of findings through report writing, preparing manuscripts for high‑quality journals, and presenting at national and international conferences. They are also expected to communicate effectively with clinical and research colleagues, participate in team meetings, and supervise the work of the research assistant with support from the Principal Investigator. The role requires initiative, strong time management, adherence to tight deadlines, and the ability to work autonomously while remaining part of a cohesive research team. Study activity will take place across community drug and alcohol services, the King’s College Hospital Clinical Research Facility, and via telephone, with the post holder expected to uphold relevant health and safety policies and undertake any additional duties appropriate to the grade as required.

This is a full time post (40 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 01/07/2027.

About you

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

Essential criteria

1. Full GMC registration with valid license to practice
2. Experience working with people with opioid dependence in or alongside drug and alcohol teams
3. Knowledge of opioid substitution treatment (methadone, buprenorphine) and the concept of precipitated withdrawal
4. Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks
5. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team, with strong problem-solving skills and ability to take his/her own initiative
6. Computer literate with advanced Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint (or Apple equivalent) and SPSS/STATA skills
7. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including concise reporting writing and the ability to engage effectively with colleagues and service users
8. Empathic attitude towards people who use drugs and understanding of some of the challenges they might face in engaging with clinical research

Desirable criteria

1. MRCPsych or equivalent
2.  Current Good Practice in Clinical Research certification
3. Ability to adhere to study protocol and maintain study deadlines
4. Ability to conduct and present scientific research in the form of posters and oral presentations
5. Experience of working on research on opioid use or dependence and/or pharmacological studies

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