Salary: Research Assistant £33,951 - £35,608 per annum Research Associate £36,636 - £46,049 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: 17 April 2026 The Role We have an exciting opportunity for an early career scientist interested in wearable technology, Digital Mobility Outcomes (DMOs) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). We are looking to recruit a Research Assistant/Associate for the EJS ACT-PD Digital Measures Sub Study (DMSS). This individual will provide technical assistance, manage the study database, analyse gait/physical activity data, process DMOs and publish key findings from the study. The DMSS aims to determine whether DMOs can detect or predict PD progression and establish the validity and utility of DMOs in a clinical trial. This work will contribute to the evaluation of PD disease and the development of PD treatments. To apply for this role, you will need to have a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Computer Science, Movement Science or a related field, or, close to submission (within three months) of a PhD in any of the above fields (for appointment at Assistant level). You will need experience of working with wearable sensor data and digital outcomes, be highly proficient at signal processing and coding, have advanced statistical and computational skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Fixed Term – Three Years About us: The DMSS team are part of the ' Brain and Movement (BAM) Research Group ' based at the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre and the Clinical Ageing Research Unit (CARU). Contact: Isabel Neatrour (DMSS Project Manager) - Isabel.neatrour@newcastle.ac.uk Weblinks: EJS ACT-PD study: https://www.ejsactpd.com/, Brain and Movement Research Team: http://bam-ncl.co.uk/ The Institute is part of the Faculty of Medical Sciences which holds a Silver Athena SWAN award. Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains staff from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the community they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices. To apply, please complete the online application and upload a CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should be a detailed supporting statement outlining why you are a good fit for the role. Please explain how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description and evidence this with examples. Key Accountabilities Although working under the general guidance of an academic or Principal Investigator, the postholder will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial 'added value' Develop and carry out the specified project using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in the personal requirements Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and in time develop own research objectives and proposals for funding Begin to write, with appropriate support, proposals for individual research funding or, where funders do not permit this, contribute to the writing of collective bids Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations Contribute to the writing up of their research for publication and 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 May be involved in the supervision, with guidance, of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or Research Assistants Will need to work with the support staff and, on occasions, with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute. May contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities Develop an awareness of University structures, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment The Person Knowledge, Skills and Experience Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills Detailed subject knowledge (PI to describe subject knowledge required) in the area of research Likelihood of advanced skills directly related to the research projects High level of analytical and problem-solving capability Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others Experience of research with clear transferable skills and some experience or awareness of the research environment Presentations at conferences and/or high-quality publications Expertise working with wearable sensor data and analysis Experience with movement analysis and signal processing (especially as applied to locomotion/ gait) Expertise in developing novel algorithms, but also understanding, optimising and applying developed algorithms for extraction of Digital Mobility Outcomes (e.g. gait outcomes) Very good knowledge of and experience using Matlab or equivalent programming languages (e.g. R, Python) Database and project management skills Knowledge of statistical techniques Good information technology and computing skills and experience with cloud computing platforms Experience working with older adults and/or patient groups (Desirable) Understanding of Parkinson’s disease (Desirable) Experience in machine learning/AI techniques (Desirable) Attributes and Behaviour Ability to work independently and as part of a team Capacity for original thought Qualifications A PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Computer Science, Movement Science or a related field (required for appointment at Associate level) Close to submission (within three months) of a PhD in any of the above fields (for appointment at Assistant level) 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: 29071