Clinical Research Associate

at  Kings College London

Job id: 105105. Salary: £43,455 - £61,833 inclusive of London Weighting.
Posted: 22 January 2025. Closing date: 16 February 2025.
Business unit: IoPPN. Department: Psychological Medicine.
Contact details: Dr Latha Velayudhan. latha.velayudhan@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Denmark Hill. Category: Research.
About King’s:
From its earliest years, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) has been fundamentally changing and shaping how we understand, prevent and treat mental illness and other conditions that affect the brain. The legacy, ethos and drive of the IoPPN has ensured its position at the forefront of mental health care, redefining mental illness, its treatment and its place in society.
The IoPPN is divided into 14 academic departments across three major academic Schools: Academic Psychiatry, Mental Health & Psychological Sciences, and Neuroscience.
The Department of Psychological Medicine, part of the School of Academic Psychiatry, focuses on the interface between psychiatry and medicine, psychiatry and occupation, psychiatry and the military, and psychiatry in different settings. We embrace research, education and clinical translation to further understand and improve mental health and treat disorders of the brain, and train the next generation of researchers and practitioners, as well as informing the wider community. As a world leading research centre, we provide an environment that offers:
research and clinical expertise
support for students in their career aspirations and goals
a collegiality and network of researchers
This role will also involve working closely with Prof. Sagnik Bhattacharyya based in the Department of Psychosis Studies. Part of the School of Academic Psychiatry, they are one of the world’s leading centres for research into psychotic disorders.
About the role:
This is an exciting position where the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work as part of an internationally leading team of researchers investigating biological bases of neuro-psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders and the mechanism of action of treatments. The team has a particular interest in investigating the mechanism of action of cannabinoids and a key component of this program of work will involve the application of cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques (such as fMRI) to investigate the neural substrates underpinning the harmful effects of recreational cannabis use as well as potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids. As part of this role, the appointed person will be directly involved in a multi-centre Parkinson’s UK funded randomised clinical trial to evaluate a new pharmacological treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease and Psychosis.
The position is ideally suited for specialty trainees (either from Psychiatry/ Neurology /Geriatric Medicine) interested in the overlap between neurology and neuropsychiatry and interested in developing experience and skills in Parkinson’s disease and clinical trials, in addition to gaining valuable experience in neuroimaging and neuropsychopharmacology.
The successful applicant will play a key role in the assessment and monitoring of patients with Parkinson’s disease taking part in the study and along with a team of researchers will contribute to the collection of clinical trial and neuroimaging data. The applicant will receive appropriate training and supervision in the assessment of motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease; neuroimaging data processing and analysis; and any other relevant training and will work closely with other research and clinical staff working on the project, fostering effective working relationships with appropriate local services (e.g., Parkinson’s clinics at King’s College Hospital and Liaison and Geriatric Psychiatry at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust).
The person will be based in the Department of Psychological Medicine, School of Academic Psychiatry, IoPPN at KCL and will work closely with Dr Latha Velayudhan(https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/dr-latha-velayudhan) and other investigators based at King’s College London, in particular Prof Sagnik Bhattacharyya(https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/professor-sagnikbhattacharyya), based in the department of Psychosis Studies at King’s College London. They will also interact with clinical fellows, research assistants, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students working in the group.
The position is ideally suited for specialty trainees (either from Neurology/Psychiatry/Geriatric Medicine) interested in the overlap between neurology and neuropsychiatry and interested in developing experience and skills in Parkinson’s disease and clinical trials, in addition to gaining valuable experience in neuroimaging and neuropsychopharmacology.
This is a full-time, fixed term post, currently funded until 1st of September 2025, with potential for extension. The successful candidate will be encouraged to apply for clinical research training fellowships to support an MD/PhD.
About You:
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• Full GMC registration (medical doctor) with valid license to practice.
• Medical Degree with a broad range of medical knowledge
• Knowledge of neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders.
• Skills and experience recruiting clinical participants for research
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and having good organizational, problem-solving and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships
• Prepared to travel around London

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of data protection and patient confidentiality.
• Postgraduate experience in psychiatry/neurology/dementia care
• Knowledge &/ or Experience of working in clinical trials
• Publication in peer reviewed scientific/medical journals

Full details of the role and the skills and experience required, can be found in the attached job description which provided on the next page.
We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.
We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King’s.We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.
To find out how our managers review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.
This role does meet the requirements of the Home Office and therefore we are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who require the right to work in the UK

Please refer the Job description for details