Research Associate

Hours: Part Time (18.75 hours per week)

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to September 2025

Background

This role will support participant recruitment, data collection, analyses and dissemination activities within Dr Cathy Manning’s new lab at the School of Psychology, within the College of Life and Environment Sciences at the University of Birmingham. 

Dr Manning’s research focuses on sensory processing across development and neurodiversity, with a focus on trying to make public spaces more accessible for autistic people and others with sensory processing differences.

Role Summary

• Work within specified research grants and/or projects supervised by Dr Manning
• Help establish a new database of children for recruitment purposes
• Schedule and collect data from autistic and non-autistic children aged 6 to 14 years
• Contribute to publications and research dissemination

Main Duties

• Collect research data from autistic and non-autistic child participants, and adult participants; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as in-person data collection using computer-based tasks and standardised assessments, and online data collection
• Develop and maintain relationships with families, schools and parent organisations to facilitate recruitment
• Contribute to the establishment of a new participant database
• Analyse research data as directed
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines (e.g., difficulties with recruitment, administrative hurdles).
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research
• Promote equality and value diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

• 2.1 or above degree or equivalent in relevant subject area (e.g., Psychology)
• Ability to work sensitively with children with varying needs (e.g., sensory and communication differences) and other stakeholders (e.g., autistic adults, autism charities, parents, schools)
• Practical experience of collecting data from child participants
• Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively
• Ability to access and organise resources successfully
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries can be made to Cathy Manning, email: c.manning@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button.

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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