Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position in cross-cultural developmental psychology with a particular emphasis on examining the role of formal education and cognitive development (e.g., executive functions) on the development of innovation and creativity across cultures. This ESRC and NSF funded research project, Learning to Innovate: Development and Diversity, is led by Dr Bruce Rawlings (Durham University) in collaboration with Prof. Cristine Legare (University of Texas at Austin), alongside a wider international collaboration team. The project will investigate the cognitive processes and educational ex periences that support the development of innovation in children across eight geographically and educationally diverse populations. The successful applicant will be based in Durham (UK), and will collect experimental, observational, and survey data, as well as measures of school quality, in Durham, under the supervision of the PI (Bruce Rawlings). Data collection and coding will be supported by research assistants, students, and a project coordinator, also based in Durham. Successful applicants will also oversee data collection at the international field sites by working with international collaborators and local researchers, including Prof Cristine Legare and her team as Co-I on the grant.They will oversee data coding, analysis, and dissemination of results which will include data from all locations.

The successful candidate will have a strong academic track record, including experience in designing, carrying out, analysing, and interpreting experimental data and associated quantitative data. Experience with any of the following topics and approaches will be a strong advantage:

• Observational and/or survey data collection
• Working with children, including in schools/educational context s
• Team management
• Cross-cultural research, especially multi-sited collaborations< /span>
• Advanced statistical analysis skills, including handling mulit- site data.

However, we do not necessarily expect candidates to have experience in all of these, and we can provide training as needed on those which are unfamiliar. You will report to Dr. Bruce Rawlings as the PI on the grant. You will also be supported by Professor Cristine Legare (UT Austin) as Co-I on the grant.

This post is fixed term until 30^th September 2027, with the possibility/likelihood 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, but this can be flexible and discussed.

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