Research Assistant

The Role

The fixed-term Research Assistant (RA) position is available 2.5 days per week (50% FTE) in the Department of Psychology at Durham University until 30 September 2027 – with the possibility of an extension to make the position a 36-month (three year) one. The successful candidate will join the research project “Learning to Innovate: Development and Diversity” led by Dr Bruce Rawlings, in collaboration with Professor Cristine Legare (University of Texas at Austin), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and National Science Foundation (NSF). The project aim is to investigate the cognitive processes and educational experiences that support the development of tool innovation in children across geographically and educationally diverse populations

The Project:

Expectations: The successful applicant will mostly participate in experimental and observational data collection and coding of children’s tool innovation and creativity, as well as measures of cognitive processes (e.g., executive functions) and academic achievement in Durham (UK). The candidate will also help coordinate team meetings for the project, and will work alongside a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) and project coordinator, also based in Durham. Standard RA responsibilities and specific requirements are listed in more detail below.

This project is a multi-sited international collaboration with data being collected in Durham (UK), Austin (US), Quito (Ecuador), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Seoul (South Korea), Hong Kong (China), Windhoek (Namibia), and Accra (Ghana). While the successful applicant will be based in Durham, they will work with a wider team (based in Durham and Austin) to help coordinate data collection by local researchers in these locations. The applicant will also help code video data.

This post is ideal for those who have finished a master’s degree and want to gain more work and research experience before pursuing a PhD. This position will prepare the post holder research experience valuable to future independent work aimed toward impactful research with community samples.

The successful candidate’s primary responsibility will be to participate in the data collection and data coding of children’s tool innovation and creativity and cognitive measures (experimental and observational), as well as measures of academic achievement and school quality in Durham.

This post is fixed term until 30th September 2027, with the possibility of an extension to make the position a 36 month (three year) one.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post as soon as possible.

Advert information