Research Assistant or Research Associate (Fixed Term)

We are looking to appoint a Research Assistant or Research Associate for 3 years to support a variety of novel translational clinical projects being undertaken within the Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. You will be based within Professor O'Brien's research group, a vibrant interdisciplinary group of basic and clinical scientists in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge undertaking clinical and biomarker studies seeking to understand the causes of and improve interventions for those with and at risk of dementia. See www.psychiatry.cam.ac.uk/oap.

The BRC studies are primarily directed by Professors John O'Brien (Professor of Old Age Psychiatry) and James Rowe (Professor of Cognitive Neurology and BRC Theme Lead) and involve investigators and teams both in the Dept of Psychiatry and the Dept of Clinical Neurosciences. They involve the recruitment and follow-up of participants with degenerative dementias and at prodromal stages, including Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, fronto-temporal dementia and related disorders as well as those "at risk" and healthy controls. Participants, often recruited from local memory and cognitive clinics, undergo comprehensive assessments including cognitive testing, biosample (blood, saliva, CSF) collection and MRI and PET brain imaging. This post would be central to the co-ordination of activities, recruiting participants, administering standardised cognitive and clinical scales, accompanying participants for brain scans and associated tests and maintaining study databases and assisting with statistical analysis. Study administration, including obtaining and maintaining ethical, HRA and other governance approvals and writing study reports, would also be part of the duties required.

Findings from these innovative projects will accelerate our understanding of early structural and functional brain changes in late onset dementias and cognitive disorders and provide key information on potential novel biomarkers for subject stratification and predicting outcome.

The project would suit candidates with a good first degree (first or 2.1) in a relevant scientific area or, for appointment as a Research Associate, a PhD in a related area. Appointment would be on the Research Assistant/ Associate scale at a suitable point depending on qualifications and experience.

The appointee would be based in the Department of Psychiatry and line managed by Professor John O'Brien, but close working with investigators in the Dept of Clinical Neurosciences would be required.

This post would offer excellent research training and experience in an outstanding and vibrant research environment to those pursuing a career in the field of clinical research in dementia.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/46977.

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and a CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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