Clinical Research Fellow
Job id: 162406.
Salary: £41,226 - £67,998 per annum, not including London Weighting Allowance.
Posted: 02 November 2026.
Closing date: 16 November 2026.
Business unit: IoPPN.
Department: Psychosis Studies.
Contact details: Prof Fiona Gaughran.
fiona.p.gaughran@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Denmark Hill Campis.
Category: Research.
About us:
The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London is a world-leading centre for research and education in mental health and neuroscience. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Research Fellow to contribute to a cross-disciplinary programme within the Department of Psychosis Studies at the IoPPN in collaboration with the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
The Recognition and Evidence Based Management of Bipolar Disorder in Psychosis Pathways project is a Maudsley Charity-funded programme designed to improve the recognition of bipolar affective symptoms and access to evidence-based care for people presenting through non-affective pathways. The project will introduce routine screening, develop and implement clinical training and diagnostic resources, refine standards of care for bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, and evaluate the current pathways and outcomes and the impact of these changes using routinely collected clinical data and qualitative methods.
About the role:
The Clinical Research Fellow will provide the principal medical input into the day-to-day delivery of the programme and clinical input to the interpretation of large-scale observational data. The post-holder will lead the development and delivery of training for clinicians in the recognition, differential diagnosis and evidence-based management of bipolar affective symptoms in people presenting with psychosis. This will include face-to-face teaching and development of accessible digital training resources.
This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for one year (with potential to extend). We recognise the importance of flexibility and would also welcome applications from candidates who wish to be considered for the role on a part-time basis. The precise working pattern can be discussed with the successful candidate, taking into account both individual circumstances and the requirements of the role.
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
- Full GMC / NMC / other relevant body registration with valid license to practice.
- Clinical experience in psychiatry at ST3 level or above, or equivalent, with substantive experience of working within UK NHS mental health services.
- Good clinical knowledge of the assessment and differential diagnosis of major mental disorders, including psychotic and affective disorders.
- Ability to understand and critically interpret quantitative clinical research and routinely collected healthcare data and to contribute clinical expertise to statistical analyses.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with clinicians, researchers, people with lived experience and other stakeholders.
- Experience of scientific or clinical writing, such as research papers, reports, conference abstracts, guidelines or educational materials.
Desirable criteria
- Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych), or substantial progress towards membership.
- Clinical experience in psychotic and affective disorders and/or forensic psychiatry.
- Experience of developing and delivering structured clinical education or digital training materials.
- Experience of working with electronic health record data, CRIS, clinical informatics, audit or large observational datasets.
- Prior involvement in research grant applications.
Downloading a copy of our Job Description
Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.
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. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.
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.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant’s own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.
We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.
We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.
To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.
Interviews are due to be held on TBC.
This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearances.
