Research Assistant

The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Northwest London has been funded until 2024 and will deliver a collaborative research improvement programme that will facilitate and accelerate the translation of research innovations into practice. Partners of the programme include all eight clinical commissioning groups and all six acute trusts in northwest London and mental health and ambulance services.

This post is linked to a programme of work within the ARC focused on improving young people’s mental health in North West London (NWL).

You will work with our NWL collaborative stakeholder network to develop and distribute a schools’ mental health needs assessment to determine need for whole school environment, universal and targeted prevention, and individual evidence-based interventions.

Duties and responsibilities

• To co-design and implement a programme of work around engaging with schools to assess and promote mental wellbeing in children and young people.


• To design, organise, undertake, and analyse qualitative and quantitative data from young people in school settings, and signpost those at risk to clinical and digital resources, promoting equitable access to mental health support and uptake.


• To work with the PI and the MM/MH team in carrying out selected analyses of the data.


• To always ensure the validity and reliability of data.


• To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings


• To participate in the writing of results of the analyses for publication in peer reviewed journals and in any other form of dissemination of research findings, such as research seminars.


• To undertake data extraction and initial data management.


• To undertake other duties as may be required by the Principal Investigator.


• To undertake and liaise with other group members on statistical analyses using appropriate statistical software.


• To collaborate with other allied scientists within Imperial College, elsewhere in London, other ARCs, and implementation sites within the NHS, as appropriate.


• To contribute to the smooth running of the theme and programmes of work with other scientists, clinicians, public partners, and students.

Essential requirements

• A degree in psychology or relevant social science.


• Experience of data collection in school or other community environments.


• Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals.


• Dealing with specific groups of people, e.g., sponsors, patients


• Knowledge.


• Some knowledge of analysis of large datasets.


• Knowledge of basic research methods and statistical procedures.


• Knowledge of general laboratory practice, techniques and instrumentation.


• Ability to engage and motivate groups of young people.


• Experience with the use of statistical packages to undertake qualitative analysis.


• Database management skills.


• Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature.


• Ability to develop and apply new concepts.


• Creative approach to problem-solving.


• Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range of people.

Further information

This post if full time, fixed term until 30thof September 2024 and you will be based at Hammersmith Campus.

Should you require any further details on the role please contact: Rinad Bakhti r.bakhti@imperial.ac.uk

The College is currently trialling a Work Location Framework until early 2023. Hybrid working may be considered for this role and the role holder may be expected to work 60% or more of their time onsite, with 40% the minimum time spent onsite. The opportunity for hybrid working will be discussed at interview.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level.

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research/

Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment. We are an Athena SWAN Silver award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and work in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.

• JD Research Assistant ARC - DA.pdf