At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead groundbreaking research on maternal sleep and its impact on health outcomes.
- Company: Join King’s College London, a leader in education and innovative research.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development days, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and international collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in maternal and infant health through cutting-edge research.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant fields and experience in maternal health research required.
The predicted salary is between 53947 - 63350 £ per year.
Department: AI & Personalised Health
About us
King’s College London is an internationally renowned university delivering exceptional education and world-leading research. We are dedicated to driving positive and sustainable change in society and realising our vision of making the world a better place. We are delighted to announce exciting new opportunities to join our community.
EMBRACE is a visionary, multicomponent international research programme, the first of its kind in the world, supported by Inkfish with £35M core funds over six years, starting in April 2025. It is a global study of 60,000 participants, including 20,000 mothers, 20,000 infants and up to 20,000 partners. It brings together world-leading clinician scientists across six distinguished Healthcare organisations, world-leading AI & technology companies, together with premier biotech companies, with the overarching aim to fast-track major scientific breakthroughs, revolutionise maternal and early childhood health through precision-personalised interventions, powered by a groundbreaking symbiosis of cutting-edge AI combined with human support.
About the role
The post of Research Scientist – Maternal Sleep leads a programme on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and nocturnal hypoxaemia in pregnancy and their impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes. The post is responsible for the design and delivery of observational cohort studies and interventional trials of sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy to generate pregnancy-specific diagnostic evidence in a field where adult diagnostic thresholds are poorly validated. The post holder is expected to secure external research funding and to translate findings into antenatal screening and treatment pathways.
The post holder will work closely with clinicians, researchers, data scientists, behavioural scientists, digital health specialists, and international collaborators across EMBRACE partner sites to develop and deliver high-quality, scalable, AI-enabled research studies and interventions. The post holder could be a non-clinical sleep or perinatal scientist or a clinically qualified doctor in specialty training or beyond. The post does not include any clinical/healthcare delivery and is categorised by the university as a non-clinical/basic science post. The salary reflects this and is not linked to NHS salary scales. This is a full time, fixed term contract for 4 years.
Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.
About you
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
- Essential criteria
- PhD in sleep or respiratory physiology, epidemiology, biomedical engineering, physiology or a closely related discipline, together with relevant postdoctoral research experience.
- Working knowledge of maternal and perinatal outcomes (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, foetal growth restriction, preterm birth), including experience working with objective sleep measurement (PSG and/or home sleep apnoea testing) and interpretation of sleep study data.
- Experience contributing to the design and delivery of clinical, behavioural, population health, or digital health research studies, including ethics approval and participant-facing protocols.
- A record of publications in peer-reviewed journals, experience presenting research findings at national/international conferences and applying for research funding.
- Project management skills - ability to work across disciplinary boundaries with obstetricians, midwives, sleep physiologists and statisticians to initiate, plan, organise, implement and deliver programmes of work to tight deadlines.
- Desirable criteria
- Experience of research in pregnant, perinatal or other populations requiring enhanced ethical safeguards, including randomised controlled trial experience.
- Quantitative research skills, including experience of longitudinal analysis using R, Python or equivalent statistical software, or demonstrable aptitude to develop these skills with appropriate statistical support.
- Experience of large maternity cohorts, routine data linkage or other large-scale health datasets, including resources such as national maternity datasets or biobanks.
- Experience of sleep, physiological or digital phenotyping, including validation of consumer wearables or novel sensing technologies against gold-standard polysomnography (PSG), and/or cardiovascular or placental phenotyping.
- Experience of translating research into practice, including implementation science or health economics, securing or contributing to externally funded research, and/or supervision or line management.
Further Information
At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university. The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.
When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.
We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.
This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and/or Occupational Health clearances.
Grade and Salary: £53,947 - £63,350 including London Weighting Allowance
Research Scientist – Maternal Sleep in London employer: King's College London
At King’s College London, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through comprehensive training opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages professional development. Located in the heart of London, our institution offers unique advantages such as access to world-class resources and a vibrant community dedicated to advancing research and education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Scientist – Maternal Sleep in London
✨Get Involved in Research Communities
Dive headfirst into the scientific research world by joining relevant communities and forums. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and even attend conferences or seminars in your field. This not only boosts your visibility but can also lead to potential job opportunities—don't forget to connect with like-minded folks!
✨Show Off Your Research Projects
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✨Utilise Professional Networks
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We think you need these skills to ace Research Scientist – Maternal Sleep in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Research Experience:When applying for a full-time role in scientific research, make sure to emphasise your research experience prominently in your CV. Share specific projects you’ve worked on, the methodologies you used, and any significant findings. If you’ve published papers or presented at conferences, definitely include that too – it shows you’re on it in the academic world!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Research Area:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the specific area of research at King's College London. Mention relevant experiences that align with the organisation’s goals or projects. This shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position – plus, it helps us see how you’d fit into the team dynamics.
Showcase Your Data Analysis Skills:In scientific research, data analysis skills are a big deal! Make sure to detail any relevant analytical tools or software you’re familiar with, like R, Python, or statistical packages. Employers are keen to know you can handle the data-heavy elements of the role, so add specific examples where you’ve used these skills effectively.
Discuss Your Future Research Goals:In your motivation section, it’s a great idea to talk about your future research goals and how they align with the work being done at King's College London. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but rather a chance to contribute meaningfully to the field. We love to see applicants who are forward-thinking and enthusiastic about their research journey!
How to prepare for a job interview at King's College London
✨Showcase Your Research Skills
In scientific research, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to design and conduct experiments. Come armed with examples of past projects where you've developed hypotheses, collected data, and analysed results. Be ready to discuss any specific methodologies or tools you’ve used, like PCR techniques or statistical software.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect some technical questions specific to your field. Make sure you're up to speed with recent advancements in scientific research related to the role at King's College London. Brush up on concepts relevant to their projects and be prepared to discuss how you would approach a specific research problem or challenge they might face.
✨Know Your Publications
If you've authored or co-authored any papers, be prepared to discuss them! Highlighting your contributions to published research can really set you apart. It shows not only your expertise but also your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, which is key in scientific research roles.
✨Exhibit Your Team Spirit
In full-time roles, collaboration is often at the heart of scientific research. Prepare examples that show how you've successfully worked in teams, dealt with conflicts, or contributed to group projects. We want to know how you can work effectively with the team at King's College London to drive research projects forward.
