Research Assistant

at  University of Stirling

Post Details
Part time (60% FTE)
Fixed term for 36 months
Salary: £30,505 - £36,924 p.a. pro-rata
The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 08 December 2024.
Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 06 January 2025.
There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.
This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.
The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.
The Post
A cross-disciplinary team of researchers led by the University of Stirling with partners at the University of Burgundy (France), Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Germany), Charles University (Czech Republic), and the University of Wroclaw (Poland) are working together on a Wellcome Trust-funded project, Olfactory communication in the first weeks of life: from chemical mechanisms to improving breastfeeding outcomes, to investigate how odour shapes mother-infant communication. The project aims to develop new insights into maternal-infant interaction that can aid breastfeeding initiation and maintenance.
As part of this project, Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences is offering a part-time Research Assistant position. You will work with Professor Craig Roberts, Professor Viv Swanson, and Dr Dimitrios Kourtis to coordinate the overall running of the project on a day-to-day basis to facilitate the successful delivery of the £3.5M project. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to the project by conducting your own research project (in a relevant area, by agreement within the team) under the supervision of one of the project team. The post is fixed term (36 months) but may be extendable beyond this period.

Description of Duties

• Take a key role in maintaining effective communication between the academic partners
• Lead the organisation of team meetings, supporting the attendance and participation of all team members
• Maintain oversight and facilitate the successful delivery of the programme of work in line with its aims and objectives
• Support and monitor the progress of programme plans to ensure delivery at the key stages and goals
• Prepare and present progress reports for the Steering Group
• Minute the Steering Group meetings and ensure all agreed actions are taken forward
• Ensure appropriate records are maintained and the financial management of each project complies with the University’s Financial Regulations
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with the assistance of a mentor if required
• Undertake basic research for example by preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments and field work, the development of questionnaires and conducting surveys
• Write up research work for publication

Description of Duties

• Take a key role in maintaining effective communication between the academic partners
• Lead the organisation of team meetings, supporting the attendance and participation of all team members
• Maintain oversight and facilitate the successful delivery of the programme of work in line with its aims and objectives
• Support and monitor the progress of programme plans to ensure delivery at the key stages and goals
• Prepare and present progress reports for the Steering Group
• Minute the Steering Group meetings and ensure all agreed actions are taken forward
• Ensure appropriate records are maintained and the financial management of each project complies with the University’s Financial Regulations
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with the assistance of a mentor if required
• Undertake basic research for example by preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments and field work, the development of questionnaires and conducting surveys
• Write up research work for publicatio

The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

• MANAGING SELF AND PERSONAL SKILLSBeing aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly.
• DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICEProviding the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.
• FINDING SOLUTIONSTaking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.
• EMBRACING CHANGEBeing open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles.
• USING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELYIdentifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.
• ENGAGING WITH THE WIDER CONTEXTEnhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values.
• DEVELOPING SELF AND OTHERSShowing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.
• WORKING TOGETHERWorking collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.
• ACHIEVING RESULTSConsistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done