YOU SHOULD APPLY IF

You have:

• a Good Honours degree in psychology or related discipline (e.g. social sciences, nursing) at least 2:1 or equivalent
• a relevant postgraduate research degree -MSc or PhD (or working towards a PhD), or equivalent professional experience in the relevant area
• experience of recruiting research participants and conducting research in a healthcare setting
• prior experience of working on a randomised controlled trial of a pharmacological and/or psychological intervention ideally based in primary care
• awareness of requirements in relation to Good Clinical Practice, data protection, confidentiality, research ethics and research governance
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• are able to work independently and as part of a team
• willingness to work flexibly to fit in with project requirements

THE ROLE

This post offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced researcher to work on primary care mental health trials. Based in the Centre for Academic Mental Health, the postholder will work with Professor David Kessler and Professor Nicola Wiles on the RELMED study. This is a multicentre study led from University College London by Professor Quentin Huys.
This work builds on advances in our understanding of the role of neuromodulators in both reinforcement learning and antidepressant action. Reinforcement learning is how we learn from rewards and losses. Antidepressants are known to act on neuromodulators such as serotonin and dopamine, and different neuromodulators carry different learning signals and are affected by different drugs. The RELMED study will test several potential markers that could differentiate how antidepressants work in a randomised trial comparing the action of escitalopram and bupropion.
Funding is currently available on a 0.8 FTE basis from 1st August 2025 until 31st May 2027.
We would expect the postholder to work at least 2 days per week on campus.

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

The researcher will work as part of a multi-professional team ensuring the successful delivery of primary care mental health trials. Their work will include recruiting and liaising with general practices, recruitment of participants, eligibility screening, and patient follow-ups from localities across Bristol and the surrounding region (Bristol, S. Gloucs, N. Somerset, BANES, Somerset and Gloucestershire). This may sometimes require working in the early evening, or very occasionally at weekends, to maximise the chance of successful contact with participants.
The researcher will work with the trial manager to develop the trial protocol and standard operating procedures for use in all trial sites. They will be expected to work independently but under the supervision of the local leads, Professors Kessler and Wiles. The researcher will need to work in compliance with all regulatory requirements and good clinical practice.