Research Assistant

As Research Assistant for the project Sing and Learn: Teach and Lead, the postholder will have the opportunity to contribute to research that helps understand the impact of this project to support the needs of early years practitioners working with young children and their families.

Working closely with the Principal Investigator, this role will provide opportunities for development of key research skills, including observations; interviews; focus groups; working with qualitative and quantitative data analysis; literature review; and report writing.

For this work, training will be provided as well as apprenticeship opportunities.

A Research Assistant would be expected to undertake a range of duties, including the following:

1. Conduct research

1.1 Utilise and deploy basic research techniques under the supervision of a senior member of staff.  1.2 Assist in the planning and implementation of specific research activities, as directed.

1.3 Undertake literature searches, as appropriate.

1.4 Assist in the collection of data including conducting interviews and focus groups, as appropriate. 

1.5 Assist in the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, as directed.

1.6 Contribute to the solution of problems encountered in the research context, referring issues as appropriate to the senior staff.

2. Presentation of findings

2.1 Assist with the presentation of information on research progress and outcomes to relevant sponsors etc.

2.2 Participate in the documentation of the results arising from research activity.

2.3 Contribute towards the publication of research findings in suitable publications.

3. Teaching

3.1 As appropriate, assist in the teaching and support of students, as directed by the senior manager.

4. Planning and managing resources

4.1 Work to deadlines and manage competing priorities, with direction as appropriate from the line manager.

5. University/school profile

5.1 As appropriate, liaise with relevant internal and external contacts/organisations in related areas of study.

Miscellaneous:

1. Exemplify and promote the values of the University. Have a strong commitment to coaching and developing; working cooperatively with colleagues; valuing the contribution of others and sharing knowledge and expertise.


2. Undertake other duties of a reasonable nature, as may be determined by the postholder’s supervisor from time to time, in consultation with the postholder.


3. Carry out all duties in accordance with the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy actions and commitments designed to promote and improve equality, diversity and inclusion and protect members of staff or students from harassment. It is the duty of the postholder not to act in a prejudicial or discriminatory manner towards members of staff, students, visitors or members of the public. The postholder should also counteract such practice or behaviour by challenging or reporting it.


4. Take reasonable care of health and safety of self, other people and resources whilst at work to comply with the University’s Health and Safety Policy, Codes of Practice and local rules.


5. Co-operate with the line manager or any other person with specific responsibility for health and safety, to enable the University’s responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act to be performed.

Review clause:

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the University’s practice to periodically examine job descriptions and to update them to ensure that they accurately reflect the job that is required to be performed, or to incorporate proposed reasonable changes. This procedure is conducted jointly by each manager in consultation with the individual whose job description is being reviewed. All staff are expected to participate fully in such discussions. When a manager seeks to amend or vary the job description it will seek to do so with the agreement of the employee, giving consideration to any representations s/he may wish to make. Where agreement is not possible, the manager will confirm the changes to the job description to the employee in writing, together with the date on which the changes will take effect. The manager will provide an explanation as to why any representations have been unsuccessful, by whatever means is appropriate. Where changes are made to a job description, consideration will be given to whether the post should be subject to re-evaluation under the University’s job evaluation scheme, depending on the extent and scope of the changes.

• BA in Early Childhood Studies or other relevant fields (E)


• MA in Early Childhood Studies or other relevant fields (D)


• Interest in engaging in post-graduate study (D)

Relevant experience

• Experience in data collection and analysis (E)


• Experience in early years settings (E)

General and special knowledge

• Writing literature reviews (E)


• Qualitative data analysis (E)


• Quantitative data analysis (D)


• Writing data analysis reports (E)

Skills and abilities

• Excellent communication skills (E)


• Interviewing or facilitating focus groups (E)


• Ability to work as part of a team (E)

Special requirements

           A strong commitment to:

• the University’s values, mission and strategic plan (E);


• a “coaching and developing” approach when dealing with colleagues and students (E); and


• working collegially; valuing the contribution of others (E)

All applicants need to submit an equality and diversity statement of no more than one page, articulating how they will contribute to making our University more inclusive and what they have previously done to advance equality

In order to be shortlisted you must demonstrate that you meet all the essential criteria and as many of the desirable criteria as possible. Where we have a large number of applications (long list) which meet all of the essential criteria, we will then use the desirable criteria to produce a short list.