Clinical Research Assistant

Overview

Are you interested in working in research? Do you want to learn new skills to support clinical studies that could shape the future of medical treatment? We have an exciting opportunity for a band 3 Clinical Research Assistant to work within our specialist metabolic research unit. You will be supporting the metabolic research team to care for patients and healthy volunteers recruited to research studies. Supporting non-commercial and commercial studies in a variety of areas, including metabolic, Bioresource volunteers, paediatric and maternal health.

Your core duties will include body composition measurements, energy expenditure assessment, phlebotomy, recording vital signs, ECG, sample processing and food handling.

We highly recommend that you come for an informal visit to discuss this exciting opportunity. Contact Dr Laura Watson, Metabolic Physiologist, for more information. lpew2@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Main duties of the job

To provide technical research support to the NIHR CRF. This will include performing a range of specific measurements of research participants, sample handling and assisting with food handling of study specific diets.

About us

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing "outstanding" care to our patients and rated "Good" overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Please be aware that the salary threshold required for a certificate of sponsorship to be granted is above the starting point of the Agenda for Change band for this role. Therefore those that are new to the NHS may not reach the minimum salary threshold required to obtain a certificate of sponsorship.

For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 8th October 2025

Interviews are due to be held on 16th & 17th October 2025

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant currently on a fixed term contract you are able to apply for this as a fixed term position.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

- GCSE Maths, English & Science at grade C or above.
- A levels including a science
- GCP training
- HCW training

Experience

- Practical experience of working with research participants or patients
- Experience in performing clinical measurements
- Previous sample handling experience and or experience of working in a laboratory
- Experience of working with children

Knowledge

- Knowledge of confidentiality and data protection
- Knowledge of the metabolic measurements to be performed

Skills

- Good written and verbal communication
- IT competence particularly in spread sheet applications
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to plan and prioritise your own work
- Positive and effective team player
- Flexible and adaptable to changing situations
- Ability to plan and prioritise your own work

Additional Requirements

- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
- Evidence of on-going professional development
- Willingness to travel regionally and nationally
- Willingness to work flexible hours including weekends
- Able to provide 24/7 on call by phone and in person

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Keith Day Road, Cambridge Biomedical Research Campus,

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