Senior/ Postdoctoral Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The Digital Mental Health Group at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit is an innovative and collaborative research group studying the intersection between adolescent mental health, cognitive neuroscience, and digital technologies with the aim of improving mental health outcomes in both non-clinical and clinical populations. We are based at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, a world-leading research centre well-known for its close-knit community, collaborative atmosphere, and outstanding research support.

Overview:

We are seeking a research associate or senior research associate who enjoys analysing data and solving statistical problems to join us for two years in the first instance. We have a range of programmes of research that you could contribute to, depending on your interests and skills, including a) longitudinal data analyses of pre-existing data (e.g., dSEM or causal approaches), b) computational modelling of behavioural data (e.g., reinforcement learning) and/or c) analyses of objective social media data (e.g., TikTok videos) through use of LLMs and other methodologies

This role will provide you with the freedom to develop new and creative ideas, methodologies, and/or approaches to challenging and societally important questions. You will be supported in finding a research area that interests you, and encouraged to develop a research programme of your own.

You will also collaborate with group members on developing projects and analysing newly collected datasets, which could include data collected from digital devices and/or services through data donation or collaboration with industry. Alongside this, you will help the research group design and implement a strategy to ensure the long-term reproducibility of research projects and collaborate with international colleagues through the CERES network that our group is a member of

We are flexible regarding start date, and could welcome you anytime between October 2024 and February 2025. Further, we welcome applications from those wishing to work part-time.

 Experience:

The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in advanced statistical techniques to analyse data. You should have a deep understanding of the strengths and limitation of these approaches, and how to generate robust inferences. We would expect you to be skilled at using programming languages such as R, Python or MPlus, depending on the analytical approaches you intend to use. It is important for you to have a track record of implementing challenging analyses, overcoming statistical problems, producing high-quality visualisations and outputs, and independently delivering reproducible analysis scripts. Experience working directly with stakeholders (such as policymakers, teachers or young people) in shaping your research, outputs or communication, is encouraged. For the complete essential and desirable criteria, as well as the criteria to apply for Senior Research Associate, please see the job specification provided as part of the application pack.

If you have any informal enquiries please feel free to contact Dr Amy Orben: amy.orben@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the apply button above

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 closing date for applications is: 19th August 2024

The interview date for the role is: To be confirmed

Please quote reference SU42416 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.