Research Fellow for Development of a Novel Vestibular Diagnostic

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to August 2027

Background

This goal of this project is to develop a novel vestibular diagnostic test based upon a technique called Electrical Vestibular Stimulation. EVS potentially offers a faster, cheaper and more patient-friendly alternative to existing diagnostics. We have obtained the proof of principle that EVS can successfully detect deficits in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders (MRC Confidence-in-Concept funded project). This confirmed that EVS offers similar diagnostic efficacy to Caloric irrigation, while being significantly more patient-friendly in terms of increased comfort and less contraindications. The current project, funded by the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme, will extend this work to clinically validate EVS against the alternative diagnostics in a larger cohort of patients. We will study the ocular response to EVS in patients with Meniere’s disease and Vestibular Schwannoma. The results of EVS will be compared against those of the existing vestibular diagnostics including vHIT and Caloric irrigation. The project is led by Dr Raymond Reynolds, Senior Lecturer at The School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, and Mr Richard Irving, ENT Surgeon at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Main Duties

• Develop patient recruitment strategies to ensure targets are met and the project runs to time, in collaboration with clinical colleagues.
• Develop and validate the vestibular testing facilities within the SportExR laboratories.
• Undertake diagnostic vestibular testing of vestibular patients and control participants at SportExR.
• Analyse and interpret data using software such as Matlab and Excel.
• Present data to the research team, and at national and international conferences.
• Draft and submit academic publications.
• Regularly liaise with the research team, including Principle Investigators, Project Manager, Clinical Research Assistant and Industrial Collaborator, to ensure that project milestones are met.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.
• Undertake day-to-day administration and management e.g., purchasing, subject expenses etc.
• Liaise with the University Research Support Group/ Clinical Research Compliance Team and their NHS counterparts to ensure research governance compliance.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD/UG students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.

Person Specification

• Undergraduate degree in Audiology, Human Neuroscience, Physiology, Psychology, Neurophysiology, or related discipline.
• PhD (or near to completion) in Audiology, Human Neuroscience, Physiology, Psychology, Neurophysiology, or related discipline.
• Track record of research in human physiology/neurophysiology.
• Clear evidence of independent contribution to research, including first-author publications.
• High level analytical capability, including experience in Matlab.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.

Informal enquires can be made to Raymond Reynolds, r.f.reynolds@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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