Ref Number
B02-11128
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£36,433-£42,891
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
08-Sept-2026
The Prevention Matters Lab (preventionmatters.co.uk) at University College London (UCL) is a research group based at the Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology focussed on advancing our understanding of preventive interventions for the onset and relapse of common mental health conditions in youth.
Research is embedded within the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, offering a world leading environment for bridging basic and clinical research. In the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), UCL was ranked first for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience.
This research assistant position involves UK based research as well as extensive national and international collaboration. The role focuses on a research line that aims to identify what the active ingredients are of preventative interventions, and how they can be targeted to best improve outcome interventions for prevention.
The postholder will assist with research focussed primarily on meta-analysis and meta-synthesis, in particular individual participant data meta-analyses in collaboration with world-leading experts. You will be leading the establishment and update of several individual participant datasets (IPD), data harmonisation, analysis and write-up. You will also lead efforts to improve the visibility of the IPD resource and research of the lab.
The postholder will also support with data sharing agreements and data access agreements through DARS (https://digital.nhs.uk/services/data-access-request-service-dars) for a second work package of the grant, in collaboration with NHS Digital. Here, your role will involve liaising with research partners, government departments, preparing research protocols and data access proposals.
The post-holder will be a member of Dr Josefien Breedvelt’s team and will have the opportunity to gain experience in individual participant data meta-analysis, data harmonisation, cohort studies and ecological momentary assessment as well as writing scientific manuscripts and contributing to knowledge translation. They are expected to work independently and collaboratively and contribute to lab activities. The post-holder will be supported in developing their independent research career.
Duties and Responsibilities
Research
- Assist in the development and maintenance of the individual participant dataset resources in prevention
- Ensure standard operating procedures implemented and followed by team members
- Serve as a direct contact person with dataset providers
- Co-ordinate advisory meetings
- Support with retrieving data sharing agreements
- Analyse data with supervision from advisors and the team
- Contribute to collaboration with lab members
- Participate in lab activities and contribute to a collaborative and positive team environment
- Draft manuscripts resulting from the research
- Present findings at meetings and conferences where applicable
- Maintain high standards of data management and record keeping
- Ensure confidentiality and adhere to ethical guidelines
- Work in accordance with UCL policies and professional standards, including equality, diversity, and information governance
- Support activities to further establish the lab including involving people with lived experience and facilitate collaboration
Essential Criteria
Qualifications, experience and knowledge
Bachelor in relevant subject (e.g., psychology, mental health sciences, data science)
Understanding of depression and anxiety prevention interventions for children, adolescents and young adults
Experience with advanced statistical analyses for evidence synthesis (e.g., individual participant data meta-analysis)
Understanding of information governance, data protection, and research ethics
Skills and abilities
Competence in advanced statistical analysis skills for evidence synthesis and demonstrated capacity and motivation to learn (e.g., R, Stata)
Excellent delivery of data management procedures, and ability to follow and supervise others to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures
Excellent problem-solving and organisational skills with the ability and motivation to manage and prioritise multiple projects to deadlines
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
UCL Ways of Working
Willingness and ability to work collaboratively and contribute to a supportive, inclusive team environment
Desirable Criteria
Experience with establishing data sharing agreements and data processing agreements
Complimentary experience in mental health research not mentioned above
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
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.
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/
