Research Associate: Neural Control of Movement in Parkinson\'s Disease

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Please note that this job is open only to current Cardiff University staff who are eligible for Redeployment.

Internal Redeployment Only – Research Associate: Neural control of movement in Parkinson\’s Disease
School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position funded by Parkinson\’s UK and based in the School of Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff University Heath Park campus.

The successful candidate will join the Research Centre for Clinical Kinesiology to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying movement in Parkinson\’s disease. Working with a novel experimental setup that combines transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex with the MOTEK Gait Real-time Interactive Laboratory (GRAIL), they will develop and validate a gait initiation task requiring inhibition of planned stepping movements. This task will be tailored for people with Parkinson\’s and used to explore how inhibitory circuits in the primary motor cortex contribute to the release of stepping movements, comparing individuals with and without freezing of gait.

This work is funded by a Parkinson\’s UK project grant. For an informal discussion please contact Jennifer Davies, Senior Lecturer at DaviesJ@cardiff.ac.uk.

This position is full-time (35 hours per week), is fixed term and is available from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2028.

Secondment opportunity welcome – please note for Cardiff University staff members interested in this post on a secondment basis, permissions will need to be sought from your current Line Manager before applying.

Salary: £41,064 – £46,049 per annum (Grade 6)
Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Closing date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment – Research – Cardiff University

Job Description

To conduct research on the neural control of walking in Parkinson\’s disease and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and the University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Research

• To conduct research working on a joint project with Cardiff University & Exeter University. The project is funded by Parkinson\’s UK titled \”Inside the Brain: Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Critical Moment of a Freeze in Parkinson\’s Disease\”. This will include
• To work with external stakeholders to establish and lead a new patient advisory group to ensure meaningful patient involvement throughout the project.
• Developing and optimising a task that requires inhibition of planned stepping movements, to be performed alongside brain stimulation within a globally unique experimental setup that combines transcranial magnetic stimulation within a gait real-time interactive laboratory (GRAIL) system. This task must be feasible, acceptable and safe for people with Parkinson\’s.
• Leading experimental studies using this task to evaluate the inhibitory circuits within the primary motor cortex that are involved in the release of planned stepping movements in people with Parkinson\’s with and without freezing of gait.

• To engage with Parkinson\’s UK, including conduct visits to local branches for study recruitment and dissemination activities.
• To coordinate, conduct, and report on patient and public involvement sessions at the University and in community settings.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate, including consideration of issues specific to vulnerable participants
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field
• To contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including publishing in national academic journals and conferences.
• To participate in School Research activities.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects

• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world

• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

1. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within human movement science, human motor control, or human neurophysiology with knowledge of brain stimulation methods (e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation) or strong willingness to acquire expertise.
2. Proven ability to develop and run laboratory-based protocols for human movement science or neurophysiology experiments, including integration of hardware and software, obtaining research ethics approvals for work with human research participants, and collection and management of research data
3. Proven ability to publish in national/international journals and/or other research outputs
4. Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies

Communication and Team Working

1. Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication
2. Proven ability to work in a multidisciplinary research environment
3. Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.

Other

1. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work
2. Proven ability to work without close supervision

Desirable Criteria

1. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and or/relevant industrial experience within non-invasive brain stimulation or movement disorders.
2. Evidence of research co-design with patient or public partners, or other examples of incorporating patient experts or public in co-design of elements of the research process.