Research Assistant in Psychology

About the role

Working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, you will support the Principal Investigator in delivery of research activity on a study concerned with how we approach the ethics review of studies involving participants who are considered clinically vulnerable. We are interested in whether taking a dimensional approach to assessing vulnerability will allow for a more inclusive and balanced approach to research ethics review. As part of this work, we would like you to assist with:

• Research identification and collation as part of a review.
• Devising and engaging in interviews with research ethics reviewers.
• The development of an online survey, including generation of questions and driving recruitment; and
• Running of focus groups with people who are considered clinically vulnerable.

For further detail see the job description.

The role is 7.5 hours per week - fixed term for 8 months until December 2025.

It would suit someone wanting to build skills and knowledge in psychology and social sciences at the early stage of their career path.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 therefore the successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

About the team

This Research Project is being delivered within the Department of Psychology and involves colleagues from the Departments of Humanities and Social Work, Education and Community Well-Being. The research team comprises: Dr. Emma Barkus based in the Department of Psychology, Dr. Alex Ho-Cheong Leung within the Department of Humanities and Dr. Se Kwang Hwang in Department of Social Work, Education and Community Well-Being. All the team are active members of the research ethics review processes at Northumbria University that positively contributes to the research culture at the university. You will be part of this interdisciplinary research team.

The Department of Psychology, where you will be based, is a large international multi-disciplinary department with over 70 academic staff. Research interests of staff reflect the broad range of disciplines in psychology from individual differences, health, organisation, forensic, sleep, clinical and cognitive psychologies. The study you will work on focuses within the clinical psychology domains and would be of interest to someone who is concerned with how research methods can be appropriately applied to vulnerable individuals.

About you

Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree in psychology, social sciences or a related discipline and should be completing or have recently completed a Master’s degree in an appropriate discipline with a strong emphasis on research methods. We would like you to have demonstrable knowledge in how research ethics processes are applied in psychology, social sciences, or a related discipline. We would like you to have experience of:

• Using quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Conducting research reviews; and
• Engagement in research with human participants.

A demonstrable willingness to learn and understanding of factors that might make people classified as vulnerable in research settings would be desired. 

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.  

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Emma Barkus on emma.barkus@northumbria.ac.uk

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