Research assistant

Unlocking Spatial Potential: A Research Assistant Opportunity at the University of Surrey

The University of Surrey is renowned for its commitment to life-changing education and groundbreaking research, fostering a dynamic global community of innovators. With an ambitious vision to be among the world's leading universities, Surrey empowers its employees to make a tangible impact, both individually and collectively. If you're seeking an environment where your contributions are valued and you can contribute to significant advancements, this role presents an exceptional opportunity.

This is an exciting part-time, fixed-term Research Assistant position within the esteemed School of Psychology, running until July 2026. At its core, this project delves into the crucial area of spatial abilities in childhood. Recognising that these abilities are strong predictors of future success in STEM fields and can be enhanced through targeted interventions, this project is poised to make a real difference in children's mathematical development.

What This Opportunity Entails:

You will become an integral part of a collaborative effort, bridging cutting-edge research with practical application. This project is a strategic partnership between the University of Surrey's leading CoGDeV lab (directed by Prof. Emily Farran), the ESRC Centre for Early Mathematics Learning (directed by Prof. Camilla Gilmore), and White Rose Education (WRE), a premier provider of educational resources. Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing Innovative Training Materials: Leveraging existing resources and the Spatial Reasoning Toolkit, you will work with WRE to create engaging spatial training materials designed for teachers to use alongside WRE mathematics content. This process will be guided by robust evidence-based knowledge exchange principles.
• Leading Evaluation Efforts: You will take the lead in evaluating the newly developed content. This involves direct communication with schools, contributing to training resource materials, actively supporting the implementation of the spatial training programme, and assessing both teacher acceptability and the impact on children's spatial reasoning and mathematical performance.
• Contributing to Future Funding and Dissemination: You will draft a comprehensive report to support a future Knowledge Training Partnership grant application, aiming to expand this valuable partnership. Furthermore, you will contribute to academic presentations and publications, sharing your findings with the wider research community.

Key Advantages for Your Career Path:

This role offers a unique chance to:

• Gain Expertise at the Intersection of Research and Industry: Immerse yourself in a vibrant team of experts in spatial cognition and mathematical learning, working at the crucial interface between academic research and educational practice. This interdisciplinary experience is highly valuable for career progression.
• Contribute to Evidence-Based Practice: Play a direct role in translating research findings into tangible educational tools, contributing to the development of evidence-based approaches that can significantly impact children's learning.
• Develop Strong Project Management and Communication Skills: The nature of the role, involving school liaison, material development, and evaluation, will hone your project management, stakeholder engagement, and communication abilities.
• Enhance Your Research Profile: The opportunity to contribute to presentations and publications will be a significant boost to your academic and professional profile.
• Shape Future Educational Initiatives: Your work will directly inform future grant applications, potentially leading to larger-scale projects and further opportunities for impact.

Considerations for Aspiring Candidates:

To thrive in this role, you should possess:

• A BSc Degree or equivalent qualification in Psychology or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience working with children and in school settings.
• Proficiency in conducting cognitive behavioural tasks or assessments with children.
• Experience in standard data coding.
• Solid understanding and practical experience of statistical analysis using statistical packages such as R or SPSS.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to teamwork.
• An interest in spatial cognition, mathematics education, and knowledge exchange.

This part-time position (0.8 FTE) offers a pro rata salary of £25,664 to £32,851 per annum. The University of Surrey is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, and applications from all qualified individuals are encouraged.