Job Description

About us
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant to join the Integrated Clinical-Computational Affective Research Unit (ICARUS). The unit is led by Dr Liam Mason (Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow). The post is based in the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology. This is a large and vibrant community where research and teaching activity aim to improve wellbeing through the application of psychological science to practice. Psychology at UCL was ranked 1st in the UK and 4th in the world in the 2023 Shanghai Ranking of World Universities. This reflects excellent links between teaching, professional training and research, the wide range of research expertise represented and the excellent opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary research provided at UCL. This is an excellent environment for an early-career researcher, where opportunities for collaboration and learning abound.
About the role
The role involves undertaking high quality research as part of an exciting new internationally funded research project investigating the neural and computational basis of anergia and effort hypersensitivity in depression. You will be responsible for: conducting behavioural, ambulatory smartphone-based and neuroimaging assessments with clinical participants with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder; assisting in study organisation; and working closely with the head of the lab and the other team members, including current and future doctoral and masters students.
The role offers an opportunity to conduct impactful, collaborative and rigorous research that can make a real difference to the lives of people with bipolar disorder. The post holder will receive support and supervision from the study team, and input from other academics collaborating on this work. This is an excellent position for an early-career researcher as it provides: (1) opportunities for publication; (2) the chance to develop knowledge and skills in neuroimaging analysis; and (3) experience of working with digital mental health and smartphone-based assessment tools. There will also be opportunities in the wider community of researchers at UCL to develop new networks.

• This is a fixed-term role for 6 months in the first instance, with the possibility of extension (3 years in total, including the 6 months).
• This role provides some funding for a PhD - depending on candidate suitability, there is the possibility to co-register as a PhD student.
• To co-register as a PhD student, you would need to be eligible for UK rate tuition fees.
• An acceptable Enhanced DBS is required for carry out parts of this role.
• This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 80% on-site.
• This role does not meet the eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa certificate of sponsorship under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL will not be able to sponsor individuals who require right to work in the UK to carry out this role.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.
About you
We are looking for someone with excellent quantitative research skills, and experience with recruiting clinical participants into longitudinal studies and in using functional MRI and scripting-based languages (e.g. Matlab, R, Python). They must also have experience of conducting research with human participants and of performing highly quantitative data analyses. They will need to have an MSc in cognitive neuroscience, psychology or related area. The role involves co-ordinating a large study and liaising with clinical participants, so the ideal candidate would have exceptional interpersonal and organisational skills.
Further Details
The advert will close on 28 July 2025 at 23:59 GMT. A and Person Specification can be accessed at the bottom of the page. If you have any queries about the role, please contact Liam Mason at l.mason@ucl.ac.uk. If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact PALS HR at pals.hr@ucl.ac.uk.
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What we offer
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

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Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Athena Swan Status Statement

• Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
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