Position Details

School of Psychology

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £31,396 to £33,966, with potential progression once in post to £38,205.

Grade 6

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 31 July 2025 

Closing date: 19 May 2024

Background

We welcome applications from a highly motivated and dynamic individual to join our team as a Research Associate / Lab Manager. We provide a friendly, productive, and supportive environment where all lab members can thrive and reach their goals. The post has become available due to previous RAs in the lab securing funded graduate school positions or teacher training in higher education. 

The role is to provide lab assistant services to Prof. Patricia Lockwood and members of the Social Decision Neuroscience Lab (www.sdn-lab.org) including helping with ethical approval, finance administration, participant recruitment and testing, and contributing to the writing of manuscripts for publication. There may also be opportunities to attend conferences and assist with the recruitment, testing and analysis of neuroimaging data. The position is for a minimum of 1 year with the possibility of extension as part of a Leverhulme Prize and a Wellcome funded Sir Henry Dale Fellowship. 

To apply, please submit your CV and a letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you would like to apply for this role and how your previous research experience would contribute to assisting with the work of the Social Decision Neuroscience lab.

Role Summary 

• Participant recruitment, testing and liaising with parents, carers and schools (when testing developmental samples)
• Assistance with collecting neuroimaging data (fMRI and MEG)
• Administrative duties including assisting with expenses, ethical approval, website development and maintenance and lab meeting organisation
• Programming of experimental tasks and basic data analysis in R, python, Matlab or similar
• Contributing to manuscripts for publication
• Assisting lab members in their research activities.

Main Duties

• Collect research data more specifically neuroimaging data (fMRI and MEG) this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews 
• Undertake participant recruitment, testing and liaising with parents, carers and schools (when testing developmental samples)
• Analyse research data as directed and present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods
• Administrative duties including assisting with expenses, ethical approval, website development and maintenance and lab meeting organisation
• Programming of experimental tasks and basic data analysis in R, python, Matlab or similar
• Contributing to manuscripts for publication
• Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research 
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification 

• A BA or BSc undergraduate degree in psychology, neuroscience, computer science or a related field at a minimum of a high 2.1
• Ideally working towards an MSc in psychology, neuroscience, computer science or a related field 
• Experience in the recruitment and testing of participants
• Experience or interest in working with diverse populations including adolescents, older adults or adolescents with behavioural problems
• Experience with programming and statistics (Matlab, R or python)
• Experience with Microsoft office
• Experience with collecting neuroimaging data is desirable
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
• Resourcefulness and organisational skills to act on own initiative
• Ability to work independently

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.  Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquires to Prof. Patricia Lockwood, email: p.l.lockwood@bham.ac.uk

View our staff values and behaviours here 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.