Job summary
- Main area
- Health Science
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed Term until)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)
- Job ref
- 350-TWS8320576-A
- Employer
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre
- Town
- Whiston
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Research Associate, Clinical Neuroscience
Band 7
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Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.
Using AI to support your application
AI can be a useful tool to support the preparation of your application. However, all information submitted must be accurate, truthful and reflect your own skills, experience and achievements. Applications should include personal examples demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Applications that appear mostly or fully generated by AI, without clear personal examples linked to the person specification, may be rejected. For tips and guidance, please refer to our applicant guidance.
Identity verification
Candidates attending interview will be required to provide original photographic identification where available. Where suitable photographic identification is not available, a photograph will be taken at interview for identity verification purposes. Successful candidates will also be required to complete digital identity and right to work checks via TrustID, including facial recognition and image matching technology, to verify their identity throughout the recruitment and onboarding process. Identity verification will also be undertaken on the first day of employment in line with NHS employment check requirements.
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Job overview
The postholder will manage and co-ordinate clinical research within the Research & Innovation Department, providing leadership for the Mood Clinic’s clinical neuroscience research portfolio. Clinical neuroscience is central to this role, enabling the translation of advanced understanding of brain function into high-quality research that improves the assessment and treatment of mood disorders.
The postholder will provide strategic and operational leadership in developing clinical neuroscience research programmes. Strong knowledge and practical skills in neuroimaging and EEG are essential to designing and delivering rigorous studies, interpreting complex brain-based data and advancing innovative research within the Mood Clinic.
The postholder will be expected to maintain and further develop this specialist expertise, alongside relevant knowledge of TMS.
Main duties of the job
To ensure high standards and continuity of care for research participants during the study and maintain lines of communication.
To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
To contribute to the ongoing development of the clinical neuroscience research applications of EEG, fMRI or TMS
To possess theoretical knowledge of the relevant mood disorders and to ensure that all theoretical and practical knowledge relating to mood disorders process is developed and maintained.
To keep up to date with the changes in clinical neuroscience applications to mood disorders.
To assess patients/ volunteers for eligibility for research and to monitor their condition throughout their participation.
Working for our organisation
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further details of this role or contact the recruiting manager for more information.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Masters level qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience in neuroscience.
- ICH Good Clinical Practice.
- Evidence of continuous personal, professional and academic development.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience research with neuroimaging, EEG or TMS
- Experience of collaborating with other agencies.
- Experience delivering specialised programmes of care and provide highly specialised advice for patients (and healthy volunteers if applicable) who are participating in clinical research.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Professional knowledge and experience of running/ leading clinical or neuroimaging research.
- Knowledge and experience of handling complex relationships.
- Evidence of accuracy to detail in data collection.
- Prior line management and experienced in supervising staff.
- Awareness of the financial impact of research within the Trust.
Skills
Essential criteria
- In depth understanding of research methodologies in digital interventions and innovations.
- Significant experience in managing own portfolio of research studies
- Able to clearly demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of current UK clinical research regulations, good clinical practice
Values
Essential criteria
- Continuous improvement – committed to making improvements to our services for the benefit of all.
- Accountability – taking ownership to anticipate, develop and deliver high quality care.
- Respect – how we treat others in an inclusive and supportive way.
- Enthusiasm – demonstrate our passion and pride for what we do and how we do it.
- Support – actively supporting others with compassion and courage.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jade Thai
- Job title
- Senior Research Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
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