Research Associate in Nutritional Sciences

We are looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate with a PhD in Nutrition. The post will offer leadership on a state-of-the-art large clinical trial that investigates the effect of a diet high in diversity of plant foods on gut and cardiometabolic health. This will be a feeding RCT in healthy participants and will include clinical (e.g. gut symptoms) and mechanistic outcomes (gut microbiome, metabolomics) in healthy adults. It is a rare and incredibly exciting opportunity to work across the research spectrum at a centre of excellence for diet and health research. Furthermore, through this post, the successful individual will be able to establish themselves as a leader in human nutrition intervention studies that have the potential to inform public health policies. There will be extensive opportunity for publications and developing independence and new skills in research, including supporting the postholder to apply for research grants. The post holder will lead on the project on a day-to-day basis with a key role including involvement in, and leadership of, developing the study protocol, obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, recruiting study participants, delivering the dietary intervention, maintaining study documentation, co-ordinating subject correspondence and conducting study visits, processing and analysing laboratory samples, and ensuring measurements of primary and secondary outcomes are conducted according to standard operating protocols. They will also be involved in data analysis and dissemination, including manuscript preparation, and co-ordination of correspondence with funders. This is a full-time post (35 hours per week) with a fixed term contract until 30/11/2028. The post requires working on-site at King's College London campus in Waterloo., We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. 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 advert. 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. To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ' How we Recruit ' pages. We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK. This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearances.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience,

• PhD in Nutrition (or on a topic related to Nutrition)
• Experience of working on human dietary intervention trials
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team on a study
• Ability to write high quality reports and manuscripts
• Flexible approach to working in terms of travel, hours, locations, different roles on different studies
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias, Experience in feeding studies
• Proficient at using academic research-related software, eg SPSS, referencing software
• Evidence of excellent organisational skills and attention to detail whilst working on a range of projects
• Experience of managing data and statistical analysis
• Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate, and the salary will increase to Grade 6.
  
  About Us
The Department of Nutritional Sciences explores the relationship between diet, health and disease from molecules to populations. Based at King's Waterloo Campus, the Department of Nutritional Sciences combines over 60 basic and applied scientists, dietitians, nutritionists, doctors and public health experts. Our mission is to find new ways to improve health and to prevent and treat nutrition-related disease. We began in 1953 as the first university department of nutrition in Europe and have been at the forefront of research in nutrition science and dietetics ever since. We have developed new food applications to impact blood glucose control, collected big data through citizen science to understand individual responses to food, pioneered the low FODMAP diet as a treatment for IBS, and are developing new cereal processing techniques to unlock the natural iron and zinc in staple foods. Our Department is based in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences . It is one of six Schools that make up the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King's College London. The School unites over 400 experts in women and children's health, nutritional sciences, population health and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life's landmark stages, treating life, disease and healthcare as a continuum. We are interdisciplinary by nature and this innovative approach works. In REF 2021, the Department and School were returned under Unit of Assessment 3 (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy) where 70% of research was 4
• (world-leading) and 95% of research was 4 and 3 (world-leading or internationally excellent), and importantly, 100% of the research environment was rated 4 (world-leading). This resulted in the highest ranking in the UK for UoA3 for research, research output, research GPA and research
power. We use this expertise to teach the next generation of health professionals and research scientists. Based across King's Denmark Hill, Guy's, St Thomas' and Waterloo campuses, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across five Departments.