Postdoctoral Research Associate

Right to work: Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. 

Full-Time, Fixed-Term (36 months) 

We are looking for a highly motivated early career researcher with a PhD (or near completion) in psychology, life sciences, genetics, epidemiology, or a related field, with strong quantitative skills. This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative, multidisciplinary team working at the intersection of education, mental health, and developmental science.

The successful candidate will contribute to a major research programme investigating how educational experiences shape mental health from childhood into adulthood. The role involves working with large-scale longitudinal datasets to explore gene–environment interplay and developmental risk pathways.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant research team based at Royal Holloway, University of London (Departments of Psychology and Economics), and work closely with colleagues at the University of Oslo (Professor Ragnhild Eek Brandlistuen). Additionally, you will collaborate with researchers at Queen Mary University of London (Dr Margherita Malanchini) and King’s College London (Professor Robert Plomin), contributing to a broader network of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Pre-registering data analysis plans;
• Leading and conducting advanced statistical analyses (e.g., twin/family designs, genomic and epidemiological methods, longitudinal modelling);
• Preparing manuscripts for publication in leading journals;
• Presenting findings at national and international conferences.

The role offers outstanding opportunities for career development in a supportive and dynamic environment. You will be supervised and mentored by Dr Kaili Rimfeld and Dr Dan Anderberg, with training tailored to your career goals.

We are particularly interested in candidates with:

• A strong background in quantitative research methods;
• Experience working with large-scale datasets;
• A keen interest in youth mental health, individual differences, and the role of education in shaping developmental outcomes.

This post is ideal for someone looking to develop a research career at the intersection of psychology, genetics, and education.

This position is available to start from September.  For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Kaili Rimfeld at kaili.rimfeld@rhul.ac.uk

Facilities

• The Psychology Department, located in Egham, close to Central London, has an excellent research profile (We are ranked joint 3^rd in the country on GPA alongside Oxford according to THE: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ref-2021-psychology-psychiatry-and-neuroscience) and benefits from state-of-the-art research facilities.  

In return, we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution 
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing. 
• Free parking 

The post is based in Egham, Surrey, where the University is located on a beautiful, leafy campus near Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance of London. 

For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk

To find out more about Dr Kaili Rimfeld, please visit the https://pure.royalholloway.ac.uk/en/persons/kaili-rimfeld  or https://sgg.psychologyresearch.co.uk/  or https://www.headgroup.science/. You can visit the websites of Robert Plomin and Margherita Malanchini to find out more about the work of the collaborators. 

Please quote the reference: 0525-115

Closing Date:  23:59, 30 June 2025

Interview Date: To be confirmed

The university has adopted hybrid working for some roles therefore some remote working may be possible for this role.

Royal Holloway is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and encourages applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, parental status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or trans status or history. More information on our structures and initiatives around EDI, including information on staff diversity networks, can be found on our Equality and Diversity Intranet page.