Research Assistant / Research Associate

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL VETERINARY & LIFE SCIENCES

School of Psychology & Neuroscience

Research and Teaching

GRADE 6 or 7

Please note this post is open for current UoG emplyees only.

Job Purpose

The post holder will join the School of Psychology & Neuroscience, to contribute to an MRC-funded project Evaluating the role of IL-17A as an orchestrator of peripheral-central cross talk in depressive symptoms under the supervision of Professor Marios Philiastides and working closely with an extended team of cognitive neuroscientists, clinicians and mental health professionals.

This project seeks a clinically actionable understanding of the mechanisms that underlie depression in the context of immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID), delivered by state-of-the-art brain imaging. In this work we aim to recruit chronic IMID patients to study the role of inflammation in the context of reinforcement learning and decision making.

The post holder will be responsible for carrying out and analysing EEG and 7TfMRI data, to offer a spatiotemporal characterisation of the relevant cortical/subcortical pathways and the mechanistic properties underlying these pathways. The successful candidate will also be expected to work closely with other postdoctoral fellows[CM1]  employed on the same project to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help the PIs manage the project as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Perform the following activities in conjunction with and under the guidance of the Principal Investigators (PI):

1. Plan and conduct assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and the research strategy of the School of Infection and Immunity.

2. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

3. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of the School, including contributing to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

4. Contribute to the presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

5. Contribute to the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

6. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/ group/ meetings/ seminars/ workshops across the School and wider community.

7. Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

8. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.

9. Carry out modest Teaching activities [e.g. demonstrating etc.] and associated administration as assigned by the Head of School and in consultation with the Principal Investigators.

10. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

11. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.

12. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School and/or Principal Investigators

13. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

For Appointment at Grade 7:

14. Perform the above duties with a higher degree of independence, leadership, and responsibility, particularly in relation to planning, identifying and bidding for funding, collaborating and publishing research, and mentoring colleagues.

15. Establish and sustain a track record of independent and joint published research to establish and maintain your expert reputation in the subject area.

16. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project and subject area, and develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive but simply highlight a number of major tasks which the staff member may reasonably be expected to perform.

Please note that as part of your application you must address and demonstrate how you meet EACH of the essential/desirable criteria. If you do not address each criterion you will not be shortlisted for interview.

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification level 10 (Honours degree or equivalent) in Cognitive Neuroscience or other relevant subject. May be working towards a post-graduate qualification such as a Masters (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 11) or PhD (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12).

A2. A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge in cognitive neuroscience.

For Appointment at Grade 7:

Essential:

A3. Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) plus track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment, or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience.

A4. Practical knowledge of human neuroimaging.

Desirable at Grade 6:

B1. Working towards or completed a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience or related field.

B2. Prior experience in the area of human decision making and learning

Skills

Essential:

C1. Excellent skills and working knowledge of Matlab and/or R

C2. Experience in Frequentist and Bayesian robust statistics

C3. Research creativity and cross-discipline collaborative ability as appropriate.

C4. Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach.

C5. Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentation and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely.

C6. Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills.

C7. Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate.

C8. Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working.

C9. Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach.

Essential For Appointment at Grade 7:

C10. Good team leadership skills including demonstrable supervisory skills.

Desirable at grade 6 / 7:

D1. Working knowledge of Fieldtrip and/or EEGlab toolboxes

D2. Experience with computational modelling of behaviour

Experience

Essential:

E1. Experience with fMRI and/or EEG

E2. Proven ability to deliver quality outputs (such as publications) in a timely and efficient manner.

E3. Experience preparing data for publication and writing publications.

E4. Evidence of an emerging track record of publications in a relevant field.

E5. Experience of scientific writing.

E6. Commitment to generating and maintaining a positive research environment and contribution to the wider research community.

Essential For Appointment at Grade 7:

E6. Extensive experience with 7TfMRI or EEG-fMRI fusion.

E7. Working knowledge of neuroimaging analysis packages such SPM, FSL, Fieldtrip or EEGlab.

E8. Sufficient breadth and/or depth of knowledge in the specialist subject/discipline and of research/teaching methods and techniques to work within the subject area, as demonstrated through relevant post-doctoral work experience.

E9. Developing track record of research outputs compatible with enhancing the School’s research profile in acordance with School objectives.

E11. Experience of making distinct contributions to identifying and pursuing research funding applications.

E10. Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design and analysis of experiments and drafting of papers.

E12. Ability to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature and to be effective both orally and in writing at a level appropriate to the activity.

E13. Experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement

Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Marios Philiastides Marios.Philiastides@glasgow.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6/7, £33,951 - £37,694 / £41,064 - £46,049 per annum

This post is full time, and has funding for up to 10 months from start date.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date: 10 December 2025 at 23:45