Job description

The NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) invites applications from (i) clinical trainees (CT2 – ST6) and (ii) nurses, allied health professionals and clinical psychologists (bands 6 – 8A top) who are committed to developing a translational research career in the UK in the areas of mental health, clinical neuroscience or the interface between physical & mental health.  Up to four posts are available and we invite applications from candidates who wish to work in any area of the Maudsley BRC’s research activity.

We encourage applications from candidates who wish to work on a project based in the NIHR-Wellcome King’s Clinical Research Facility (CRF). In collaboration with the Centre for Neuroscience Imaging there are ongoing projects that use state-of-the-art neuroimaging, including neurogenetics, neurophysiological approaches to measuring brain responses and pharmacological approaches to exploring new treatments and treatment mechanisms for mental health and neurological conditions.   

The exact location of each post will depend on the particular project and supervisory team that the successful candidate has applied to work with.  

Eligibility

1.     Applicants must hold registration with the NMC, the HCPC, the GMC or Membership of the relevant Royal College or equivalent qualification (in accordance with Royal College guidelines). 

2.      Applicants must have at least 12 months’ experience of practice with a UK healthcare provider in the health or care profession for which they hold the required registration. 

3.      Applicants must hold a current contract of employment with a provider of healthcare services in the UK.  Fixed term contracts are acceptable.  Honorary contracts or bank work cannot be accepted. 

4.      Applicants must not already hold a doctoral research degree. 

Important:  Before applying, potential applicants must approach supervisors to discuss projects that can be taken forward for the fellowship and developed further for a full clinical research training fellowship application. Applicants can propose their own project or develop one suggested by their prospective supervisor.   Please see the Maudsley BRC website for full details and pre-application guidance. 

Preparatory Fellowships are aimed at clinical trainees, nurses, allied health professionals and clinical psychologists who do not hold a doctoral research degree.  

The Fellowships are designed to provide the time, resources and support to help bridge the gap between current training/employment and further professional and career development in research.  The Fellow will be expected to plan, prepare and submit an application to an external funding body for a doctoral research training fellowship, Eg. NIHR Doctoral Fellowship or HEE/NIHR Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (DCAF) Scheme.   

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

This is a full time post  (hours per week will be dependent upon clinical profession).  Applications for part-time hours will be considered for a minimum of 40% FTE.

Key responsibilities

• To acquire and refine skills in translational and experimental medicine, particularly in the context of patients with mental health disorders.
• To develop and undertake training and research in an innovative, original research programme in the field of mental health, drawn up between the post-holder and their supervisors(s), which supports the translational and experimental medicine remit of the NIHR Maudsley BRC, the NIHR-Wellcome King’s CRF (where applicable) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London.
• To successfully compete for external research grant funding to support continued research training and academic career development.
• To publish the findings of research in high quality journals in a timely way with a commitment to open research practices
• To present research findings at appropriate national and international meetings and conferences.
• To support and guide colleagues in understanding specialist knowledge and skills and contribute to collaborative, interdisciplinary research programmes across the NIHR Maudsley BRC and IoPPN at King’s College London.
• To carry out other duties appropriate to the grade and role.

Decision making, planning & problem solving:

• To develop skills in decision making, planning and problem solving relevant to translational and experimental medicine, particularly in the context of patients with mental health disorders.
• Lead the planning, prioritisation and organisation of work of self and others within the team.
• Develop and deliver an excellent research project, identify research funding opportunities and contribute key knowledge and skills to existing and new interdisciplinary research programmes.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• To communicate effectively with supervisors.
• To communicate effectively with other research staff, patients and students across King’s Health Partners.
• To communicate research findings at national and international conferences and meetings.
• To develop a collaborative network locally, nationally and internationally to support the research programme.

Service delivery:

• To be defined by the scope of the post holder’s selected research project.
• To support colleagues in the NIHR Maudsley BRC and the host research team at King’s College London in delivering high quality, translational and experimental medicine research.
• To support the reporting of research activity, outputs and impacts from the NIHR Maudsley BRC and the host research team at the IoPPN, King’s College London to fulfil annual reporting requirements to the National Institute for Health Research and the Department of Health.
• To ensure that appropriate acknowledgement is included in any peer-review publications arising from the research undertaken during the Fellowship.

Analysis & research:

• Perform detailed analysis and manipulation of research data, highlighting and prioritising research deliverables.
• Research, collate, organise and edit material for inclusion in reports and other documents.
• Undertake excellent research leading to publication in high quality, high impact peer reviewed journals.
• To successfully compete for external research grant funding to support development of the post-holder’s research programme.

Team work, teaching & learning support:

• To work as part of a team across the NIHR Maudsley BRC, the NIHR-Wellcome King’s CRF (where applicable), the IoPPN at King’s College London and any other host organisations, contributing to research meetings and presentations.
• To provide support, or technical advice, training, or demonstrations in the use of specialised equipment as appropriate.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Clinical trainees:  MBBS or equivalent qualification with distinction/honours Nurses & AHPs:  BSc 2.1 or 1st and appropriate qualification for full NMC or HCPC registration

2.       Clinical trainees:  Membership of GMC or Membership of the relevant Royal College or equivalent qualification (in accordance with Royal College guidelines with a valid license to practice) Nurses & AHPs:  Registration with NMC and/or HCPC

3.       Ability to communicate to a wide range of people at various levels

4.       Ability to prioritise a varied workload and work under pressure to meet deadlines whilst maintaining a high level of quality

5.       Ability to manage the day-to-day running of a research project, working effectively both independently and as part of a team

6.       Demonstrated track record of research in a relevant subject area with evidence of knowledge of basic research methodologies

7.       Ambition and commitment to further developing an academic research career

8.       Project proposal indicates clear involvement of service users at various stages

9.       Clear plan for development of a project that can be taken forwards for a PhD or other external career development award

10.   Time plan includes details of all relevant training that is expected to take place during the fellowship

11.   Plan includes a realistic timeframe for appropriate external fellowship applications to be submitted

Desirable criteria

1.   Intercalated BSc or an MSc

2.   Research publications in peer-reviewed journals

3.    Commitment to open, transparent, accessible and reproducible research

Further information

To apply, please register with the King’s College London application portal and complete your application online.

The following documents must be uploaded with the online application:

• Covering letter (2 pages)
• CV
• Letter of support
• Outline of the proposed research fellowship (4 pages)
• Completed sheet indicating Maudsley BRC research themes and priorities the project will meet.

  Important:  For all the above please refer to the  pre-application guidance for details of information that must be included with each document.  Applications received without the documents specified above will not be sent forward for shortlisting. Please also see

The selection process will include a panel interview and a presentation.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearances.