Research Assistant (Newcastle, GB) reference: 1272955301

Embark on a Rewarding Research Journey at Newcastle University

Newcastle University presents a compelling opportunity for a dedicated Research Assistant to contribute to two groundbreaking studies at the forefront of mental health and computational psychiatry. This role offers a unique chance to gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research methodologies and make a tangible impact on understanding and treating depression.

About the Opportunity:

This is a 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent) position, split equally between two significant research projects. You will be instrumental in advancing our understanding of how antidepressant treatments work through computational mechanisms with the Wellcome-Trust funded RELMED project. This involves assisting with EEG data acquisition and preprocessing for two large-scale clinical trials, contributing to a major undertaking in computational psychiatry that integrates rigorous clinical trials, computational psychiatry, and neuroimaging methods. The RELMED project is set to run two sequential randomized clinical trials, offering a long-term engagement with significant research data.

Simultaneously, you will be involved in the NIHR-funded home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) study, evaluating its effectiveness and feasibility as a treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) within the NHS. In this capacity, you will play a vital role in participant recruitment, data collection, daily study operations, participant interviews, follow-up coordination, and meticulous record-keeping. This aspect of the role provides invaluable practical experience in clinical trials, brain stimulation technologies, and mental health interventions.

The full-time equivalent position is funded for an initial period of 2 years, with the potential for renewal. The role requires onsite work between the Campus for Ageing and Vitality and St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

What Makes This Role Stand Out:

• Impactful Research: Contribute to two significant, externally funded research projects (Wellcome Trust and NIHR) aiming to improve mental health treatments.
• Diverse Skill Development: Gain comprehensive experience in EEG data acquisition and preprocessing, computational psychiatry, clinical trial management, participant recruitment and interviewing, and brain stimulation technologies.
• Career Advancement: This role is ideal for individuals with existing participant-facing research experience who are eager to deepen their expertise in mental health research and novel treatment approaches. Newcastle University is committed to the career development of its research staff, with defined role profiles to guide progression.
• Collaborative Environment: Work within dynamic research teams, collaborating with GP practices, secondary care centres, Talking Therapies, and a range of key stakeholders including lived experience researchers and patient groups.
• Excellent Benefits: Newcastle University offers a competitive salary, a generous holiday package (with the option to purchase more), excellent pension schemes, and various health and wellbeing initiatives.

Key Considerations for Aspiring Candidates:

This position is well-suited for a candidate who possesses:

• Strong Research Acumen: Demonstrable experience in participant-facing clinical research, including recruitment and conducting interviews with individuals experiencing mental health disorders.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with EEG data acquisition and processing is essential. Experience with experiment programming tools like PsychoPy is a desirable asset.
• Analytical and Communication Skills: The ability to analyze data, interpret findings, and communicate complex information clearly, both verbally and in writing, is crucial.
• Organizational Excellence: Exceptional multitasking and organizational skills are required to manage study visits, maintain accurate records (both electronic and paper-based), and coordinate equipment logistics.
• Proactive and Collaborative Spirit: A capacity to work independently, use initiative to solve research problems, and collaborate effectively with a diverse team.
• Passion for Mental Health: A genuine interest in working with individuals with mental health disorders and contributing to innovative treatment approaches.
• Educational Foundation: A good honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as cognitive neuroscience, psychology, or computational neuroscience is required. A Master's degree or higher is advantageous.

This role offers a compelling opportunity to grow your research career within a supportive and leading academic institution. If you are driven by a desire to contribute to impactful research and possess the requisite skills and enthusiasm, we encourage you to explore this exciting prospect.

Please note: The closing date for applications is 17 December 2025.