The Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP) clinical psychology research group develops, tests, and implements new theory-driven psychological treatments for patients with psychosis.
We are seeking enthusiastic and highly organised research assistants to help conduct high-quality clinical trials across four projects.
Project 1
The post-holder will work in our team’s new national centralised clinic. The clinic will recruit patients across NHS mental health trusts across the UK to take part in two of our trials: (Feeling Safer (ISRCTN93974770) and Sleeping Better (ISRCTN71800376). The post is to support the liaison with clinical teams and NHS R&D offices across the UK, recruiting patients, and carrying out the trial assessments.
Project 2
The post-holder will work across three clinical trials taking place in our four local NHS trusts (Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (Milton Keynes)). The key tasks will be seeking referrals from clinical teams and Research Delivery Networks, conducting eligibility checks, and completing trial assessments of patients in clinic settings or at home across a large local geographical area, meaning that there is likely to be extensive travel which would be facilitated by having a valid driving licence, and access to own or other independent means of transport.
The posts are for a fixed term of 12 months in the first instance, available from October.
The posts will provide excellent experience of clinically relevant research and would suit a person interested in going on to either clinical psychology training or further research. Experience will be gained of engaging and assessing patients diagnosed with psychosis or at ultra-high risk of psychosis, NHS services, clinical trials methodology, and clinical psychology research. You would join a large clinical psychology research group comprising clinical psychologists, other research assistants, psychology assistants, project and trial managers, and computer scientists.
With a psychology degree (2:1 or above), you will have an interest in the psychological understanding and treatment of psychosis. Excellent engagement and organisational skills will be needed to work with clinical teams and NHS patients. All the posts will be based in the new Life and Mind Building in Oxford (lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk).
You will be required to upload a CV, supporting statement explaining how you meet the selection criteria, and details of two referees as part of your online application. Please state which project you would like to be considered for.
The closing date for this post is 12.00 midday on 4th September 2025 and interviews will be held on 19th September. If selected for interview, this will last 30 minutes with Professor Daniel Freeman, Associate Professor Felicity Waite, and Dr Laina Rosebrock. This will be followed by a written task, lasting 20 minutes.
We are committed to equality and valuing diversity.