Research Assistant in Neurodiversity & Motor Skills Development

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. 

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Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.  

The role

We are seeking a graduate Research Assistant to join an exciting new project: ‘Motor impairments and strategies in developing neurodiverse brains’, funded by the Waterloo Foundation. 

• You will be working at the interface between developmental psychology, education, and neurodiversity. 
• You will recruit families and collect data in schools to understand how movement develops in typically developing children and in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) / Dyspraxia. This position will thus involve a lot of visits in different schools and requires for you to be mobile.
• You will have weekly supervision from Dr Marie Martel and will work closely with Dr Judith Gentle and Dr Lewis Jayes, and other research assistants of the MoDI Lab. The Motor Development and Impact (MoDI) Lab was set up in 2016 to bring together research at the University of Surrey which investigates typical and atypical motor development and its impact across the lifespan on social and cognitive skills, as well as physical and mental health.
• You will also contribute to report writing, presentations, publications and dissemination to non-academic audiences.

This is a full-time position with funding for up to 11 months from the start date. By discussion, we are also open to part-time arrangements that could extend the position to fit your personal circumstances.

Why Join Us?

This position offers the chance to work in a dynamic and supportive research environment, making a real impact on understanding motor development in neurodiverse children. You will be part of a passionate team dedicated to advancing knowledge in this crucial area.

For more information or to discuss the role, please contact Dr Marie Martel at m.martel@surrey.ac.uk 

About you

This position is ideal for someone interested in pursuing a career in research and gaining hands-on experience. We are open to exploring opportunities for PhD studentships once this position concludes. We are looking for a candidate with:

• A BSc or MSc in Psychology/Neuroscience or any related discipline.
• Experience in data collection and participant recruitment.
• A strong interest in working with children.
• The ability to work sensitively with special populations.
• Good written and oral communication skills. 
• Strong organisational skills.
• The capacity to work independently.

Please note, an enhanced DBS check will be conducted to ensure eligibility to work in schools.

How to apply

To apply, please upload a cover letter detailing your interest for the position and how you fit the criteria (max 2 pages), as well as a CV via our website.

Online interviews will be held w/c 24 February.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient interest in the role.

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