Research Fellow – Psychopharmacology and Psychoanalysis

About us

The post holder will be based in the Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit (CPU) within the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology. The department consists of a large and vibrant community where research and teaching are focused on improving well-being through the application of psychological science. Psychology at UCL is recognised as among the best in the world. We are ranked 2nd in Europe and 6th globally by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject (2024). This ranking reflects excellence in research and teaching across the range of psychological and brain sciences subfields. UCL provides exceptional collaboration and interdisciplinary research opportunities and is an excellent environment for early-career researchers. The CPU is made up of a friendly and supportive group of psychopharmacologists and experimental an d clinical psychologists dedicated to advancing clinical science through high-quality research. Alums of the CPU have gone on to highly successful careers in academia, industry and clinical practice.

About the role

We are recruiting a research fellow with significant experience in - and good working knowledge of - psychopharmacology and psychotherapy to work on this unique project funded by the Memorial Foundation. The project investigates the effects of the drug 3,4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), in psychoanalytically trained psychotherapists, with the aim of using the insights they experience after two medically supervised dosing sessions to further our understanding of MDMA's mechanism of action. The post is full-time and initially lasts ten months (until 30/04/2025), with the possibility of funding for another 2.5 years. Reporting to the principal investigator (Prof Sunjeev Kamboj) and co-investigators, Prof Peter Fonagy and Dr Henry Clements, the researcher will join a dynamic multi-disciplinary research team consisting of pharmacologists, neuroscientists, psychoanalysts/p sychoanalytic psychotherapists, experimental and clinical psychologists and medics. The main components of the job are: (1) Obtaining ethical approval for the project, (2) forming collaborative relationships with appropriate organisations which can enable the recruitment of suitable participants, (3) recruiting participants, (4) executing the protocol to obtain high-quality quantitative and qualitative data (5) analysing the qualitative and quantitative data and (6) contributing to writing publications based on the findings. We are happy to consider hybrid working arrangements. Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.

About you

We are looking for someone with excellent qualitative research skills and a good understanding of analysis methods used with intensive longitudinal data. You should have a proven track record of efficiently working to tight deadlines and managing complex research projects. You must have a PhD in psychology or a related discipline or have substantial relevant experience. Because the project involves handling a controlled drug, the post requires an enhanced DBS check.

Please ensure you attach your covering letter outlining how you meet the criteria for the post and CV including a list of publications.

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