Research Associate (Image Analyst)
Department of Psychiatry
(Ref PS1)

£23,457 to 30,607
Length of appointment: until 30 April 2008

The PsyGRID consortium is undertaking an ambitious project to enhance
research and development in routine mental health service settings by
establishing an e-science framework within the recently formed Mental
Health Research Network (MHRN) of the National Institute of Mental Health
England. To give context to the GRID-based network, data will be acquired
from multiple centres on a representative cohort of individuals with first
episode psychosis. These data will include magnetic resonance images (MRI)
and will enable hypothesis-driven epidemiological and intervention
research, with emphasis on predicting and preventing adverse outcomes.

The consortium is formed by the University of Manchester, Universiy of
Cambridge and Institute of Psychiatry as well as seven hubs of the MHRN.
The project has links to the Medical Image and Signal Research (MIAS) GRID
and the neuroscience led consortium of NeuroGRID. All the projects come
under the umbrella of the UK e-Science Programme (http://www.nesc.ac.uk/).

This position is to support MRI data processing and lead in the evaluation
and integration of the imaging data with other sources of information. The
programme of work will be staged to initially bring together the centres
using existing technology, introducing GRID-based technology as it matures.

Preparatory work will involve the MRI scanning of healthy subjects at each
centre to determine inter-site variance components and make predictions of
statistical power. Following on from these studies, MRI images will be
acquired from subjects at risk of psychosis to establish a normative
database of brain structure and development in young people. This position
will be part of the team to design and implement these studies,
technically coordinating data distribution and processing.

The position is based at the Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry,
University of Cambridge (http://www-bmu.psychiatry.cam.ac.uk/). There will
be some modest requirement for travel between centres in the consortium.
The University is committed to create opportunities for further education
as part of a career development plan. Authorship of peer-reviewed
scientific papers is encouraged.

The successful applicant should have a PhD in a numerate discipline, for
example, mathematics, physics or statistics and an interest in computing,
databasing and real-world datasets. Interest in GRID-based technology
would be an advantage. It is important that they should be able to
demonstrate effective multidisciplinary team working and communication
skills as well as self-motivation.

Applications should include a full CV, PD18 (Parts I and III) and the
contact details of two professional referees who can be approached prior
to interview. Further information can be obtained through email from: Dr
John Suckling [log in to unmask] Completed application packages should be
sent to

Brain Mapping Unit,
Department of Psychiatry,
Box 255,
Addenbrooke’s Hospital,
Cambridge CB2 2QQ

or email to [log in to unmask]
The position is open only to those eligible to work in the UK.

Closing Date 27 July 2006
Interview Date 18 August 2006