Overview
Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences – INTERNAL ONLY – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY
About us
The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) is one of Europe’s largest research groups and one of the few teams in the world bringing together leading experts in brain development and pro and antisocial behaviours. We believe it is essential to investigate the determinants of typical development in order to understand variation in behaviour (or illness).
We are offering an opportunity within the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to join our world class academic team in neurodevelopmental disorders.
About the role
This role will focus on analyses and methods development to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning typical and altered neurodevelopment, brain structure, and function across development. Specifically, the candidate will have expedited access to data from Autism Innovative Medicine Studies 2-Trials (AIMS-2-TRIALS), the world’s largest multimodal, longitudinal autism study; and the SLAM Image Bank, one of the world’s largest, real-world imaging/clinical datasets.
Specifically, the candidate will develop approaches to analyse brain structure and/or connectivity from childhood to adulthood using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They will also have the opportunity to link neuroanatomical profiles to other imaging-modalities, including magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), functional MRI, electroencephalography (EEG), and sensory measures, to further examine neurobiological variation across the neurodevelopmental spectrum. Moreover, the candidate will link imaging-derived phenotypes to (i) neurodevelopmental outcomes (e.g., to provide a basis for future research into brain-based biomarkers) and to (ii) genomic variation using novel imaging-transcriptomics approaches (e.g., to identify putative treatment targets).
To this aim, the successful applicant will work as part of an analytic team, including Prof Murphy (KCL), Prof Christine Ecker (Frankfurt) and Dr Charlotte Pretzsch (KCL). Beyond this core analysis team, the candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in research on foetuses/neonates/infants led by Prof Grainne McAlonan, Professor David Edwards, and Dr Dafnis Batalle; and research on sensory processing by Dr Nick Putts.
The successful candidate will support other researchers and MSc/PhD students. They will develop novel scientific questions in brain development and lead on the analysis of specific aspects of translational science depending on their areas of expertise. It is expected that the candidate will also contribute to departmental teaching.
This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), until 30/11/2027.
Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers , applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.
About you
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria
- PhD in neuroscience/neuroimaging/neurobiology or a related field near completion*,
- Previous experience in neuroimaging (including structural magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electroencephalography) in babies, children, adolescents, and adults.
- Advanced (statistical) data analysis (including meta-analysis and longitudinal analysis) and programming skills
- Ability to write complex reports and/or scientific publications, demonstrated through emergent track record of peer reviewed journal publications
- Ambition to apply for research grants
- Ambition to establish inter/cross-disciplinary collaborations
- Ability to think critically and independently, e.g., demonstrated through track record of developing own scientific ideas
- Enthusiasm and motivation to pursue complex scientific projects
Desirable criteria
- Teaching experience
- Ambition to involve stakeholder communities in the research process.
- Previous experience in vibrotactile psychophysics and sensory profile analysis.
Downloading a copy of our Job Description
Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.
* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
