King's College London

About Us

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is the largest academic community in Europe devoted to the study and prevention of mental illness and brain disease. The IoPPN pioneers research into new and improved ways of understanding and treating mental ill health ( http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/). The research role is based in the Psychology Department, one of the world’s largest academic groupings of clinical and health psychologists. It is one of four departments in the School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences. ( https://www.kcl.ac.uk/psychology)

AVATAR therapy involves the use of a digital simulation (avatar) of the entity the person believes is the source of the voice in a three-way discussion between participant, avatar and therapist, focussing initially on managing anxiety and helping the participant to stand up to the avatar (phase 1) followed by a realistic enactment of the ascribed character of the voice, targeting processes that are specific to an individualised formulation (phase 2). The first multi-centre RCT showed that both brief and extended forms of the therapy show significant reductions in voice-related distress, with wider effects on wellbeing (Garety et al, 2024). In March 2024 AVATAR therapy received a NICE-Early Value Assessment recommendation for deployment in the NHS for the purpose of real-world evidence generation. Our long-term vision is that AVATAR therapy is optimised for delivery in clinical settings, with the impact that a novel effective treatment for distressing voices is readily adopted in UK and international clinical settings. The current role is within a Wellcome funded study which involves real-world pilots of AVATAR therapy in frontline NHS services (AVATAR-RW).

About the role

Working as part of the KCL-based lead team alongside Dr Tom Ward (Co-PI), Dr Clem Edwards (Co-PI) and Dr Amy Hardy (Co-Applicant) the core role purpose is to support the successful delivery of the AVATAR-RW project against the following aims:

1. To optimise AVATAR therapy software for real-world deployment. The Avatar Therapy System as delivered in the recent AVATAR2 trial is a Class 1 medical device registered by Avatar Therapy Ltd (Technology Partner). Stakeholder engagement with those with lived experience, NHS collaborators and AVATAR therapists will support optimization of the platform for real-world deployment and harness the experience gained through previous work in NHS settings during the AVATAR2 trial.
2. To establish effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in routine care. We will train frontline clinicians across 4 NHS Trusts to deliver AVATAR therapy within NHS care pathways. In line with NICE-EVA recommendations, the proposal is a prospective controlled cohort study with 12-month follow-up, delivering real-world evidence on clinical and cost-effectiveness across diverse routine care settings.
3. To establish a reliable and sustainable method for real-world outcome monitoring. Gathering data on outcomes in routine clinical care is a challenge. We will therefore co-produce accessible, reliable and reportable measures of outcomes that can be embedded within the AVATAR therapy software and delivered as part of a routine therapy session.
4. To conduct a process evaluation of AVATAR therapy implementation. A logic model will be developed at the start of the project to support implementation. A mixed-method process evaluation will be co-produced with front-line clinicians and patients to understand routine care implementation of AVATAR therapy across diverse service users and identify barriers and enablers.
5. To deliver a strategy to support spread and sustainment. A summary of the evidence generated will be submitted as part of the NICE-EVA review process with a view to a future submission for a full NICE recommendation. The data on real-world effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is identified as the crucial next step in an agreed commercialization strategy designed to deliver widespread adoption in the NHS.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 2 years, with the possibility to extend until the 30th of April 2029.

About You

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

Essential criteria

1. A doctoral level qualification in a relevant subject area.
2. High level of digital literacy, including demonstrable expertise in using statistical analysis software to support data interpretation and reporting.
3. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
4. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including senior clinical academics, to support research delivery and strategic objectives.
5. Strong project management capabilities, with a documented track record of leading and delivering research projects to agreed timelines and quality standards.
6. Comprehensive understanding of research methodologies, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
7. Sound knowledge of ethical, governance, and data protection requirements relevant to research, including protocol development and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
8. Exceptional organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously and maintain high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.

Desirable criteria

1. Interest in eMental Health, digital innovation and intervention.
2. Experience of working with people with psychosis.
3. Experience of clinical study management.
4. A registered health professional (GMC, HCPC, NMC).

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.

Further Information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

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 person specification section of the job description. 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.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

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.