Research Assistant

Job Purpose

You will contribute to the delivery of a CSO-funded research programme evaluating Neumind, a digital intervention designed to support cognitive rehabilitation and longer-term self-management following acquired brain injury (ABI). Working with the Chief Investigator Prof. Jonathan Evans, the research team, and clinical collaborators, you will undertake research that will inform the intervention development and a subsequent feasibility randomised controlled trial.

The role will involve co-design research with patients, family members and clinicians; qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis; trial and process-evaluation activities. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this ambitious and impactful project as opportunities allow.

The post is full-time and fixed end date for 20 months (January 2027 – August 2028).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Plan and conduct assigned research activities individually or jointly in accordance with the project protocol, ethics approvals, study procedures and agreed project deliverables.
2. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow/School/Research Group, including contributing to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed publications, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.
3. Support the delivery of qualitative/co-design work to inform the Neumind intervention development. This will include interviews and focus groups with patients, family members and clinicians; contribute to iterative co-design activities; administer appropriate questionnaires; and contribute to refinement of the Neumind intervention, training and implementation protocol.
4. Support the delivery of a feasibility trial, including participant recruitment and screening, informed consent, baseline and follow-up assessments, randomisation and study documentation, working within approved procedures and under appropriate supervision.
5. Collect, manage, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative research data. This will include contributing to framework-based qualitative analysis, analysis of questionnaire and trial outcome data, and maintenance of accurate study databases and records.
6. Contribute to the process evaluation of the feasibility trial, including interviews with participants and clinicians and collection of information about how the intervention is delivered and supported in practice.
7. Work collaboratively with the research team, clinical collaborators, Neumind development team, patients, family members, clinicians and other stakeholders, contributing to meetings, co-design sessions and study management activities.
8. 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.
9. Contribute to research outputs, including reports, conference presentations, manuscripts and other dissemination activities, and assist with preparation of future research funding applications.
10. Maintain accurate and secure research records and contribute to research governance, ethics, data protection and other study documentation in accordance with University and project requirements.
11. Carry out administrative tasks related to the research project and research group, including assisting with study materials, recruitment records, meetings, teaching activities, expenditure and project reporting.
12. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in acquired brain injury, rehabilitation, clinical research, digital health and relevant research methods.
13. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.
14. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School/Director of Research Institute.
15. Contribute to the enhancement of the University's international profile in line with the University Strategy.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Essential Knowledge/Qualifications:
A1 SCQF Level 10 (Honours degree) in a relevant subject such as psychology, health sciences, social sciences, rehabilitation or a cognate discipline, or equivalent.
A2 Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of acquired brain injury.
A3 A comprehensive and up to date knowledge of the wider subject area of psychology and rehabilitation.
A4 Knowledge of research methods relevant to applied health or clinical research, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, and an understanding of research involving patients, carers and/or healthcare professionals.

Desirable Knowledge/Qualifications:
B1 A postgraduate research qualification (e.g. MSc/MRes) or PhD (awarded or recently submitted or near completion) in a relevant subject, or equivalent research experience.
B2 Relevant training in Good Clinical Practice, research ethics, information governance or clinical research methods.
B3 Knowledge of the NHS research ethics and research and innovation processes.
B4 Knowledge of current advances in either a) the use of assistive technology in clinical contexts or clinical health technology or b) user experience and user interface design.

Essential Skills:
C1 A sound and up-to-date understanding of the wider subject area relevant to the project, such as acquired brain injury, rehabilitation, digital health or health services research.
C2 Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and concisely.
C3 Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach.
C4 Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills with the ability to organise recruitment, data collection, study documentation and competing project deadlines.
C5 Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills using appropriate software for qualitative and/or quantitative research data and maintaining accurate research records.
C6 Self-motivation, initiative and the ability to work independently while recognising when advice or support is required.
C7 Problem-solving skills and a flexible, pragmatic approach to responding to challenges in recruitment, data collection and research delivery.

Desirable Skills:
D1 Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and with researchers, clinicians, patients, carers and other stakeholders.

Essential Experience:
E1 Experience of collecting and analysing qualitative and/or quantitative research data, ideally including interviews or focus groups and analysis of outcome or questionnaire data.
E2 Relevant experience working with people with neurological or other long term health conditions, their carers, and/or healthcare professionals, either in a clinical or research capacity.
E3 Evidence of delivering high-quality research outputs and study activities to agreed timescales, including accurate documentation and data management.
E4 Experience of contributing to scientific writing, such as reports, abstracts, manuscripts, protocols or research materials and an emerging track record of high-quality research publications in a relevant field.

Desirable Experience:
F1 Experience of working in clinical or community rehabilitation research that involved people living with acquired brain injury or neurodegenerative disorders.
F2 Experience of trial, process-evaluation or health-economic data collection.

Benefits

A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared. An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages. A flexible approach to working. A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.