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- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to enhance mental health data accessibility and contribute to impactful research.
- Company: Innovative initiative at the University of Cambridge focused on mental health omics.
- Benefits: Full-time role with access to training, mentoring, and a collaborative work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in mental health research while developing your skills in a cutting-edge lab.
- Qualifications: Strong organisational skills, experience with R or Python, and a medical degree required.
- Other info: Opportunity for PhD admission application alongside this role.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
18 months Fixed Term to start December 2025, Full Time Monday to Friday
We are seeking a motivated and experienced Research Assistant to join an innovative, co-produced initiative aiming to make mental health omics data more harmonized, accessible, understandable, and useful to researchers, clinicians, industry, and people with lived experience. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team including data engineers, clinicians, software developers, and lived experience experts.
Responsibilities
- Scope and integrate new datasets into a new web interface, focusing on mental health-relevant omics and real-world data.
- Contribute to the enhancement of the Open Targets Platform to better present psychiatry-relevant omics data and make it more accessible to diverse users.
- Collaborate with people with lived experience (PWLE) to co-develop an accessible, inclusive interface.
- Assist in data analysis, including harmonisation of large-scale datasets and exploration of biological and environmental associations.
- Contribute to academic outputs, including manuscripts for peer‑reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.
Opportunity and Team
- Functional genomics and psychiatric epidemiology
- Clinical informatics and data harmonisation
- Co-production and participatory research methods
- Working within a cutting-edge UK-wide data infrastructure initiative
Location and Team Context
You will be based in the Department of Psychiatry at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and will be part of the dynamic new Cambridge-Oxford BioMind Lab, led by Dr Mary-Ellen Lynall, with access to training courses, seminars, and mentoring opportunities. You will also work closely with Dr Ellen McDonagh\’s team at Open Targets / European Bioinformatics Institute.
Qualifications and Skills
Essential: strong organisational and communication skills; experience working with data in R or Python; a medical degree; experience in functional genomic analyses; experience working with people with lived experience in a clinical or research context.
Desirable: interest or experience in applying for admission to a PhD at the University of Cambridge alongside this role.
Application Details
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Mary-Ellen Lynall, Project Lead – mel41@cam.ac.uk. For further details and to apply, please read the Further Particulars. If you have queries regarding the application process, please contact Simon Gurry, HR Coordinator at hradminpsychiatry@medschl.cam.ac.uk. Please click the Apply button to register an account and apply online. Upload a covering letter and CV in the Upload section; the covering letter should outline how you match the criteria and why you are applying. We will not consider additional documents not requested.
Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.
Closing date: 19 October 2025
Interview date: to be confirmed
Reference: RN47539
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
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Research Assistant (Fixed Term) employer: Mctd
Contact Detail:
Mctd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Assistant (Fixed Term)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to the Cambridge-Oxford BioMind Lab. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers or team members, be ready to discuss your experience with R or Python. Bring examples of your work to the conversation – it’ll make you stand out!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from asking questions! During interviews or networking events, ask about the projects they’re working on. This shows your genuine interest and helps you understand how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Make sure your covering letter highlights your passion for mental health research and how your background aligns with the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Research Assistant (Fixed Term)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Covering Letter: Make sure your covering letter is personalised and directly addresses how you meet the criteria outlined in the job description. We want to see your passion for the role and how your experience aligns with our innovative project.
Showcase Your Skills: Highlight your organisational and communication skills, as well as your experience with data in R or Python. We’re looking for someone who can seamlessly integrate into our multidisciplinary team, so let us know what you bring to the table!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your CV and covering letter clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward applications that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and motivations. Remember, less is often more!
Follow Application Instructions: Make sure to upload your covering letter and CV in the specified section and include your referees' details as requested. We won’t consider any additional documents, so stick to what’s asked to keep things smooth for us all!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mctd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of mental health omics and the specific datasets you'll be working with. Familiarise yourself with the Open Targets Platform and how it presents data. This will show that you're genuinely interested and prepared.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience with R or Python, especially in the context of data analysis. Prepare examples of past projects where you've harmonised datasets or worked with large-scale data, as this will highlight your technical abilities.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with a multidisciplinary team and people with lived experience, think of examples that demonstrate your teamwork and communication skills. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated in previous roles.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the project and the team dynamics. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you. Consider asking about the co-production process with lived experience experts.
