Research Assistant

The Role and Department

The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences is a global leader across a range of sport and physical activity domains. We were named the 2023 Sports University of the Year by @thetimes and we are proudly ranked 4^th in the UK, in the Complete University Guide 2025, and 10^th in the 2021 UK Research Excellence Framework (REF). We are also a QS World Top 100 department for sport-related subjects. The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences offers a vibrant, innovative and friendly academic environment for talented i ndividuals to flourish and develop their careers.

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a Research Assistant (RA) on a part time basis (0.4 FTE) to support an exciting and innovative project in collaboration with an industry partner Applied Monitoring Limited who have designed a device to measure lactate using non-invasive technology. The work can be flexible regarding which days the RA works and can be negotiated around other commitments like another part time role, study etc. Lactate is produced in the muscles and the blood as a by-product of exercise. As exercise intensity increases the concentration level of lactate increases, which can ultimately result in the termination of exercise due to feelings of discomfort. Sports scientists, coaches and athletes use lactate as a key measurement f or creating bespoke training programmes to maximise positive adaptations to support the athletes’ competition performance. The aim of the project is to compare the new device against the laboratory standard.

Part time position that offers flexible working days in 0.4 FTE position for one year. There is flexibility within the role to agree different working days that are not fixed week to week and also to work more days certain weeks to accommodate other commitments the successful candidate may have.

• This post is fixed term for 12 months as funding is only available for this amount of time.

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

The successful candidate will work with Dr Lindsay Macnaughton as the project lead and will work closely with our technical staff and other team members. Experience conducting human based, exercise laboratory testing is essential and as the project requires venous blood collection phlebotomy experience and qualification is also essential with cannulation experience being highly desirable. Excellent initiative, flexibility in work style, communication, and teamwork are highly desirable.

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