Research Assistant /Associate in Parkinson's Clinical Data Science

Salary:

Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum

Research Associate: £37,694 to £39,906 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 1 October 2026

The Role 

We are excited to launch this opportunity for a Research Assistant or Associate in Parkinson’s Clinical Data Science to join us in the Translational and Clinical Research Institute at Newcastle University.

You will be based in the Biomedical Research Building at Newcastle University within the Faculty of Medical Science, and join the Digital Health Innovation in Ageing and Neurodegeneration (DIAN) research group, a multidisciplinary team focused on advancing understanding of ageing and neurodegenerative diseases through innovative data-driven approaches. You will work closely with Professor Camille Carroll, who leads the Innovation for Improvement in Parkinson's Care and Trials (IMPACT). Professor Carroll’s research focuses on disease modifying therapy (DMT) trials, particularly in relation to inclusive design and delivery, as well as harnessing the potential of technological innovations to transform the trials landscape and Parkinson’s care. 

IMPACT brings together research that advances Parkinson's care through innovative clinical trial design, digital health technologies, and data-driven approaches. The lab focuses on accelerating the development of disease-modifying therapies while improving the measurement, monitoring, and personalised management of Parkinson's through inclusive and technology-enabled research.

In this role, you will support the next phase of development and evaluation of SMaRT-PD (Self-Management, Remote Monitoring and Timely Review for Parkinson’s Disease), an innovative Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) designed to support people with Parkinson’s disease to live independently at home through digital technologies, including remote monitoring and wearable devices. You will oversee key aspects of data management across the SMaRT-PD clinical studies, ensuring that all data collected are of the highest possible quality and integrity. Responsibilities will include data capture, monitoring, anonymisation, transfer, storage, and processing, with a strong emphasis on data governance and GDPR compliance. The postholder will work closely with the Newcastle research team and partner institutions involved in project data management.

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience working with complex clinical or epidemiological datasets, strong quantitative skills, coding experience and an interest in Parkinson’s disease or neurodegeneration. You should be comfortable working with heterogeneous real-world data and motivated by collaborative research with clear translational impact.

The post is available on a fixed-term basis for 18 months, until 31 March 2028. Some travel to partner sites and meetings may be required.

As part of our commitment to researcher development, we follow the Researcher Development Concordat and support all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This includes mentoring, annual research planning discussions, access to training, and support for developing funding applications and independent research.  

You will report to Professor Camille Carroll. We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you would like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact camille.carroll@newcastle.ac.uk, or Precious.Onyeachu@newcastle.ac.uk. We are committed to making the process accessible to everyone and can provide adjustments to support your application.

How to apply

Please submit:

• A CV
• A cover letter outlining:
• Your experience working with complex clinical or epidemiological data
• Your experience with statistical or data science tools
• Your interest in Parkinson’s disease or related research
• Examples of collaborative working
• How you meet the essential criteria

What happens next

Interviews will be held in August/September.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf.  These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here:
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/

Find out more about our Research Institutes: Research Institutes | Faculty of Medical Sciences | Newcastle University

Key Accountabilities

Research Assistant

• Contribute to and lead analyses of health record data
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate

Research Associate

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

Research Assistant

• Knowledge of Parkinson’s disease, including disease heterogeneity and progression
• Knowledge and/or of Parkinson’s clinical assessments (motor and non-motor)
• Ability to assess and harmonise heterogeneous clinical data
• Experience of quantitative analysis of clinical or epidemiological data
• Experience using statistical/data science tools (e.g. R, Python, Stata, SAS)
• Ability to document methods clearly and produce reproducible analytical workflows
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.

In addition for Research Associate

• Comfortable working with complex, multi-source datasets and navigating ambiguity in real-world data
• Strong interest in Parkinson’s disease, neurodegeneration, or longitudinal clinical research
• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Proactive and able to take initiative while working within a structured project
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to explain complex concepts clearly
• Collegial and collaborative, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines and institutions
• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

Research Assistant

• Honours degree or Masters in neuroscience, epidemiology, biostatistics, health data science, clinical psychology, public health or closely related discipline

In addition for Research Associate

• PhD in neuroscience, epidemiology, biostatistics, health data science, clinical psychology, public health or closely related discipline

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29632