Research Officer - MHM

Location: Singleton Campus, Swansea

About The Role

This is a Fixed Term role until November 2027 working full-time.

We are seeking a skilled researcher to join the internationally renowned Population, Psychiatry, Suicide, and Informatics (PPSI) team at Swansea University, led by Prof. Ann John. This role offers an exceptional opportunity to work on cutting-edge population mental health research, contributing to projects within our £10M+ portfolio, including DATAMIND, National Center for Mental Health, and Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health.

You will lead the creation and validation of mental health SNOMED CT-based phenotypes, enhancing the reproducibility of mental health research. Assess the UK’s mental health research infrastructure, identifying improvements in discoverability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability. Additionally, you will collaborate on high-impact research, developing responsible machine learning methods aligned with epidemiological principles. Your work will shape mental health research, policy, and practice.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead development of mental health phenotypes based on clinical code systems and electronic health records, creating standardized measures for research.
• Design strategies to improve research infrastructure and data quality, focusing on FAIR principles.
• Lead interdisciplinary projects combining epidemiology and machine learning to drive innovation.
• Collaborate with researchers to publish papers and contribute to grant applications.

This role requires strong programming skills (e.g., Python, R, and SQL), along with a solid foundation in epidemiology or health data science. You will work with resources like the SAIL Databank and UK-LLC, driving evidence-based change in areas such as child and adolescent mental health, suicide prevention, and AI applications in mental health.

Key benefits:

• Professional growth in a supportive environment with opportunities for publishing, conferences, and research grants.
• Swansea offers excellent work-life balance, with beautiful beaches, parks, and a vibrant cultural scene.
• Your work will directly influence mental health policy and improve care for vulnerable populations.

Join a collaborative, dynamic team, where your contributions will be valued, and your career will thrive.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh. Applicants for a role where Welsh skills are essential are expected to present their application in Welsh and will be interviewed in Welsh, if shortlisted.

Additional Information

Applications for this role will take the format of a CV submission and cover letter.

Please also attach your Publication List or include this in your cover letter.

Closing Date: 13 February 2025

Interview Date: 21 February 2025

Informal Enquiries: Dara Almeida Medina Dara.almeidamedina@swansea.ac.uk

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