Postdoctoral Researcher – Technical (ARIADNE) Full-time

Postdoctoral Researcher – Technical (ARIADNE)

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

The Department of Psychiatry is based on the Warneford Hospital site in Oxford – a friendly, welcoming place of work with an international reputation for excellence. The Department has a substantial research programme, with major funding from Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and provides highly rated medical training in psychiatry. The Head of Department is Professor Belinda Lennox.

This is an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher to become a member of the Design Bioethics Lab (DBL) led by Dr Kathryn Francis and Dr David Lyreskog. You will work on the Wellcome Trust funded project ARIADNE – an interdisciplinary research project developing a screening tool to support clinical evaluation for psychosis risk, powered by generative artificial intelligence. You will particularly support the development of a novel research method for identifying and analysing ethical issues in child and adolescent psychosis risk prediction.

What We Offer

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working.

About the Role

The post is funded for 24 months and is based in the Department of Psychiatry at the Warneford Hospital. You will develop and/or contribute to the development of high-quality empirical research proposals on relevant research questions, to be operationalised from conception through to research ethics, data collection and writing up. You will lead on the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data online and in-situ including schools, educational environments, and public/commercial locations.

About You

You will have or to be close to completion of PhD/Dphil in in psychology, computer science, bioethics or a relevant empirical social or cognitive science discipline. You will have advanced experience using empirical methods and conducting advanced quantitative data analyses in psychology, computer science, bioethics, or a relevant empirical social or cognitive science discipline. Knowledge and experience conducting psychometric analyses is desirable.

Diversity

Committed to equality and valuing diversity Our active Psychiatry People and Culture teams and initiatives including our values and behaviours framework, work to make the Department of Psychiatry as supportive, welcoming and inclusive as possible.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. Please see the University pages on the application process at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/application-process The closing date for applications is 1 October 2026.