Senior Research Associate

Starting salary from £38,249 per annum, dependent on skills and experience, with an annual increment up to £45,413 per annum.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Research Associate to join the School of Psychology to help test and expand a leading theory of how multiple word-learning processes like memory and attention work together to support early word learning, and how this changes during early child development. 

As a Senior Research Associate on this project run by Prof. Larissa Samuelson, you will conduct computational and experimental studies to understand variability between children in their early vocabulary development, with the aim of eventually predicting which children struggling to learn words will catch up and which children will continue to struggle.

You will analyse and interpret data, write up results and present findings at conferences and events. You will join the Developmental Dynamics Laboratory at UEA, an active and productive research community conducting cutting edge work on a large range of topics in early development. You may also have the opportunity to contribute to grant applications, be involved in the supervision of researchers and teaching of students within the School, and work with members of the local community on related initiatives.

You will have a postgraduate level qualification, equivalent qualification or experience in psychology, cognitive science or computational neuroscience. You will have experience of computational modelling and independent research, have publications in respected journals within the field and be able to work in a proactive and results driven manner in a fast-paced environment. You will also have strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to analyse and interpret data and work effectively as part of a team. Advanced skills including running experimental studies with infants and children, leading a research project and communicating research to non-specialists would be advantageous. 

This full-time post is available from 1 October 2025 on a fixed-term basis for 4 years. Due to the nature of research with infants and children, some flexibility of working hours will be required.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointment will be subject to a criminal record check at Enhanced level from the Disclosure and Barring Service, including a check of the Child Barred List. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Further information on our great benefits package, including 44 days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays and additional University Customary days can be found on our benefits page.

Closing date: 29 March 2025

The University holds an Athena Swan Silver Institutional Award in recognition of our advancement towards gender equality.

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