Research Assistant E-Risk at King’s College London

Job description

We are looking for five motivated Research Assistants with excellent interviewing skills to support a new phase of data collection for a large ongoing longitudinal twin study. The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study (see https://eriskstudy.com/) has been following a cohort of 2232 twin children born across England and Wales in the mid-1990s since they were 5 years old. They have been assessed six times during childhood and adolescence and we have now secured funding to assess them again at age 30. This updated dataset will be made available to researchers across the UK and worldwide to provide a unique resource for conducting research into mental health, adversity, and prosperity over the first three decades of life.

These posts would particularly suit individuals who are looking to work in a flexible manner and gain experience of collecting high-quality data on mental health and social interactions from young adults in the general population who come from a wide range of backgrounds. This may be especially useful for those who plan to pursue a career in research, clinical psychology, mental health nursing, or social work.

The post holders will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of the data collected during this phase of the E-Risk Study. Specifically, they will contact Study participants once they turn 30 to explain the Study, gain informed consent, and schedule interviews; conduct interviews with Study participants via online video calls to assess mental health and other aspects of the participants’ lives; ensure the security and confidentiality of the data they collect; plus rate assessments and provide extensive written notes of the discussions and their observations during the interviews. Extensive training will be provided on all aspects of the Study plus regular supervision and ongoing support from the Project Coordinators, and 1 day each month (pro-rata) will be set aside for career/personal development.

The post holders will be based remotely (at home) but will be required to come into the SGDP Centre, IoPPN Denmark Hill campus in London at least one day per month. Post holders will be required to work flexibly as many interviews are likely to be conducted during evenings and weekends. They will also need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check as some of the individuals interviewed are considered potentially vulnerable. The posts are offered for 1 year in the first instance with the possibility of a further 12-month extension and can be held on a full-time or part-time basis.

We particularly welcome applicants who are disabled, LGBTQ+ and/or from a minority ethnic background, as they are under-represented at King’s. We are deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all our activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring place to work and study. The SGDP Centre (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/mental-health-and-psychological-sciences/about/departments/social-genetic-and-developmental-psychiatry) strives to be an open and supportive community, with a strong emphasis on working practices that promote diversity and inclusion, including an anti-racism working group.

These posts will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

These are full-time posts – 100% full time equivalent though part-time job shares are welcome.