Research Associate or Research Assistant

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine / School of Population Health Sciences / Usher Institute
Full time: 35hrs per week
Fixed Term: Available from 1 March 2026 – 31 August 2028
The Centre for Medical Informatics at the Usher Institute within The University of Edinburgh is looking for a non-clinical Post-doctoral Research Fellow to conduct original research, focusing on the development and application of data analytics methods to process multimodal data to provide clinically useful insights into bipolar disorders. This is part of the £3m 5-year Wellcome Trust Programme Grant, “Ambient and passive collection of sleep and circadian rhythm data in bipolar disorder to understand symptom trajectories and clinical outcomes (AMBIENT-BD)”,
The post holder will be a key member of the Data Analytics Research and Technology Research group (DARTH, led by Prof. Athanasios Tsanas, and the AMBIENT-BD project team ( They will:
focus on the development and application of signal processing and statistical machine learning techniques to mine self-reports and sensor data to gain new insights towards assessment and longitudinal monitoring of bipolar disorder;
We will also consider requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular (weekly) on-campus working. Thanasis Tsanas, Professor of Digital Health and Data Science (atsanas@ed.ac.uk )
PhD or MSc with related work experience in a relevant discipline e.g. Medical Informatics, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or Computer Science.
Experience in the application and development of data analytics methods (e.g. time-series analysis, signal processing, statistical machine learning), preferably including some experience on physiological signals, clinical reports/self-reported outcome measures and sensor data.
Excellent programming skills (MATLAB or Python preferred).
Proven track record of publishing research outputs.
Current University of Edinburgh employees (i.e. internal applicants) interested in applying for this role – you must apply as an internal applicant through the People and Money Current Jobs tile. A competitive salary.
An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success.
To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
Comprehensive Staff Benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, flexible working and much more. Championing equality, diversity and inclusion
We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
The closing date for applications is 5th January 2026.
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As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
The Usher Institute sits within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at The University of Edinburgh. We are also the Health and Social Care Data-Driven Innovation Hub, part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
The Usher Institute is a key applied and translational arm of the Edinburgh Medical School, within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh; offering significant expertise in health services research, health informatics, data science and social science.
We strive for and work towards the data-enabled transformation of health.
For more information, visit the Usher Institute website ( ) (opens in a new browser tab)
School of Population Health Sciences
Transforming health in society by working with people, populations and data.
The School of Population Health Sciences sits within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at The University of Edinburgh.
The School of Population Health Sciences is a key applied and translational arm of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh; offering significant expertise in health services research, health informatics, data science and social science. We are also the Health and Social Care Data-Driven Innovation Hub, part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
We strive for and work towards the data-enabled transformation of health.
The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM) is home to six Schools which in turn host five world-leading research institutes; the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, the Usher Institute, the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, the Roslin Institute and the new Institute for Neurological and Cardiovascular Sciences. The teams in the six CMVM Schools work together to build outstanding discovery and translational research programmes designed to answer the major challenges facing humanity, animal and planetary health, now and in the future. Our undergraduate and postgraduate teaching is delivered through Edinburgh Medical School and the Royal (Dick) School of Medical Studies with contributions from all six schools.