Job Description

Location

Brighton, UK

Hours

Full-time considered up to a maximum of 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours) Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).

Salary

Grade 7 starting at 38,784 to 46,049 per annum, pro rata if part time.

Contract Type

Fixed Term Contract
About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to conduct research on microstructural changes in the central nervous system using MRI scans of the Brain and spinal cord in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of Motor Neuron Disease. This research relates to a study called "CLIMB-ALS" (Comprehensive Longitudinal Imaging Study To develop MRI Biomarkers of CNS Degeneration in patients with ALS) and is funded by a Biomedical Research Project Grant through the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).


You will join researchers based at the Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre at the University of Sussex, and you will be working in close collaboration with the Principal Investigators, Dr Samira Bouyagoub (University of Sussex) and Dr Andrew Barritt (University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust) and project collaborators and partners.


Your role will involve collecting and analysing diffusion MRI data from patients with ALS and healthy control participants, collecting/handling blood samples for blood biomarkers, and writing up the results for research meetings and publication in peer-reviewed journals.



About you

You should be experienced in analysing MRI brain data, using dedicated software packages (e.g. FSL or Freesurfer or SPM) and capable of reporting on and disseminating findings in appropriate academic and accessible language to a range of audiences. Ideally, you will be educated to a doctoral level in Physics/Engineering or other appropriate field and have an excellent academic track record. The role requires you to have the skills to manage your own workload, be a quick learner, have a friendly and amenable manner for working with research participants and colleagues, be highly attentive to detail, and keen to learn and engage in active scholarship in relation to the research topic.



About our School

Our Psychology school has a rich history extending over half-a-century, marked from the start by our variety of research and courses. From the ground-breaking work of scholars such as Stuart Sutherland and Marie Jahoda, we've grown to cover all areas of psychology.



The School was formally established in 2009, bringing together academics across biological, cognitive, developmental, clinical and social psychology into one School. We've now entered the second decade of our existence as one of the largest and most influential academic communities for psychology in the country!


Anchored by our core values of kindness, integrity, inclusion, collaboration and courage, our research and teaching address societal challenges to create a better world.



The School of Psychology is proud to hold a Silver Athena Swann Award.



Why work here

Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.


Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it's our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.



Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion



Further Key Information

Please contact Samira Bouyagoub (s.bouyagoub@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.


The University is committed to equality and valuing diversity, and applications are particularly welcomed from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) at Sussex.


The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.



The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsorship if full time and appointed at Grade 7.4. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship.




November 20, 2025 5:59 PM

Expected Interview Date

To Be Confirmed, In Person.

Expected Start Date

01 January 2026

Fixed Term Contract Duration

Fixed Term until 30 November 2028.