Research Assistant in Nutritional Sciences London, England
King's College London
Full Time
London, England
35502 GBP ANNUAL Today
Job description
Job description
An exciting opportunity has arisen to appoint a Research Assistant with a background in nutrition and/or dietetics. The postholder will be involved in setting up, co-ordinating and conducting a large trial on a nutritional intervention in mental and gut health. The study is a clinical trial aiming to assess the effects of a dietary intervention on the gut-brain axis in people with mild-to-moderate psychological distress (e.g. anxiety, depression).
The postholder will assist in the day to day running of the project, including (but not necessarily limited to) preparation/baking/sourcing of the nutritional intervention products, recruitment of study participants, delivery of the dietary intervention, maintaining study documentation, co-ordinating subject correspondence, conducting study visits, ensuring measurements of primary and secondary outcomes are conducted according to standard operating protocols, collecting and processing biological samples, and assisting with data entry and analysis. The post-holder will be based within the department of Nutritional Sciences in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences (Waterloo campus) and will report to Dr Eirini Dimidi.
This is an exciting opportunity for the postholder to develop and refine nutrition research skills in an emerging scientific area, and work closely with a dynamic team of mental health and nutrition experts.
This post will be offered on a fixed term until 31/03/2025.
This is a full time post – 100% full time equivalent
Key responsibilities
- Setting-up a clinical trial, including preparing and acquiring the necessary regulatory approvals (e.g. ethics approval)
- Preparing/baking/sourcing and delivering the nutritional interventions
- Screening and recruiting study participants
- Maintaining study documentation
- Conducting study visits
- Measuring trial outcomes according to standard operating procedures
- Collecting and processing biological samples (e.g. stool, blood samples)
- Assisting with regulatory approvals and administration, where required
- Assisting with data entry and analysis
- Attending and contributing to project team meetings
- Undertaking administrative duties to facilitate the smooth running of research activities.
- Working collaboratively on other research projects within King’s College London, as needed.
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, knowledge, and experience
Essential criteria
1. BSc or MSc in Nutrition or Dietetics
2. Ability to work independently and as part of a team on a research project
3. Evidence of excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
4. Ability to take initiative to solve technical and logistical problems
5. Flexible approach to working (including travel, hours, locations)
6. Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias.
Desirable criteria
1. Experience of working on human clinical trials/dietary intervention studies
2. Experience of recruiting participants to a study
Candidates are strongly encouraged to specifically address the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification in their covering letter.
