King's College London

About us

This role will be based in the Department of Addictions, within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). The IoPPN is a leading centre for mental health and neuroscience research in Europe, transforming care through world-class research to serve communities both locally and globally.

About the role

This post-doctoral researcher position will play a central role in delivering King’s College London’s contribution to the newly NIHR-funded Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research (CAMHR), led by the University of Hull in collaboration with King’s and the University of York. Based within the Addictions Department at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), the post-holder will support a five-year programme of research across three priority areas related to substance use and mental health. Working under the direction of Professor Paolo Deluca, this role will contribute to the implementation of innovative methodologies—particularly involving wearable technology—and strengthen collaborative links across institutions. The role is integral to advancing research excellence at King’s in the field of addiction science and supporting further development of interdisciplinary and translational research. More information about CAMHR is available here: CAMHR Website.

This is a part time post (40%), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31/10/2029.

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 the role

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. PhD (awarded or thesis submitted) in Addiction
2. Experience in conducting both quantitative and qualitative research, including data collection and analysis
3. Proven ability to obtain ethics and research governance approvals for human subjects research
4. Track record of involving patients and the public (PPI) in the design and conduct of research
5. Evidence of academic writing skills, including contributions to peer-reviewed publications
6. Strong interpersonal and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks independently
7. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion principles in research and team environments

Desirable criteria

1. Experience using wearable technologies (e.g. transdermal alcohol sensors) and/or virtual reality in research
2. Experience in systematic review methods and/or survey design
3. Familiarity with interdisciplinary or multisite research collaborations
4. Experience contributing to research grant development or applications 
5. Experience in teaching, training, or supervision within an academic or clinical research setting

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.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearances.