Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Research Associate, Clinical Neuroscience

The closing date is 19 November 2026

Job summary
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.

About us
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.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 350-TWS8320576-A
Job locations: Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre, Whiston Hospital, Whiston, L35 5DR, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Masters level qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience in neuroscience.
• ICH Good Clinical Practice.
• Evidence of continuous personal, professional and academic development.

Experience
Essential

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name: Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre, Whiston Hospital, Whiston, L35 5DR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Senior Research Lead Jade Thai, Jade.Thai@merseycare.nhs.uk

Supporting documents
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