Job Description
Position Details
School of Psychology
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822
Grade: 7
Part Time (30 hours per week)
Fixed Term contract up to October 2026
Closing date: 14th September 2025
UK travel may be required for this role
Background
We are seeking to appoint a Research Fellow to join our active and vibrant mood disorders research group. The post holder will support academic outputs and clinically relevant scientific insights aligned to the NIHR funded, Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre (MHMTC) to conduct original research and work within a growing team of translational researchers. We are offering a part-time position (80%FTE) until October 2026.
The MHMTC is led by Professor Matthew Broome (Institute for Mental Health, and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (BWC), and Co-Directed by Professor Steven Marwaha (Institute for Mental Health and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT).
The aim of the MHMTC is to accelerate regional mental health research capacity and re-engage industry with initial focus on new precision interventions for Early Psychosis (EP) and Mood Disorders within the context of a young, superdiverse, deprived population.
The researcher will contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking activities focusing broadly on mood disorders and sleep as a mechanism of onset, relapse and treatment. The post is suited to candidates with an interest and/or experience in investigating sleep within the context of mood disorders.
The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Marwaha and Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz, within the Mood Disorders’ theme of the MHMTC.
Role Summary
- Work with the Centre leads and Deputy theme leads to develop and deliver funded objectives, in relation to mood disorders and sleep, primarily.
- Plan and co-ordinate research activities.
- Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids.
- To work towards deliverable outputs and milestones from the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre.
- Plan and publish high quality research, supported in this by the Centre Leads and Deputy leads.
- Conduct secondary data analyses. Expertise in big data would be valuable as well as advanced quantitative skills; and experience with secondary data analyses are required.
- Recruitment of people with treatment resistant depression to the Midlands digital platform deeply phenotyping this population.
- Data collection and administration of research schedules recruited to the data platform.
- Contribute to (and potentially lead) the development of new interventions for mood disorders.
- Assist in the development and conduct of experimental medicine studies for people with mood disorders.
- Take part in the Mood disorders theme group meetings.
- Project manage research activities, and/or supervise other research staff.
- Present findings in high quality publications and conference proceedings.
- Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued.
- Analyse and interpret research findings and results.
- Contribute to generating funding.
- Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar.
Main Duties
The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.
- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
- Contribute to writing bids for research funding
- Analyse and interpret data
- Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
- Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
- Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
- Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
- Undertake management/administration arising from research
- Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
- Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
- Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
- Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
Person Specification
- PhD completed or close to completion in a relevant subject area
- High level analytical capability
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly
- Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
- Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
- Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
- Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
- Requirement for DBS, Occupational Health Check and awareness of the Data Protection Act (DPA)
OH And DBS Required
The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and DBS clearance prior to appointment.
Informal enquiries to Shahara Choudhry, email:
[email protected]We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website . 
