Researcher in Psychology

The School of Psychology is situated within the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care. The School is home to our two Discipline areas of Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) and Professional Psychological Practice (PPP). We foster a culture of continual growth and improvement and seek to hold equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing as a central pillar to all activity. Our research is articulated through several research groups (which feed into the University Themes and Research Centres) that address a diversity of areal of psychological research including nature connectedness and wellbeing, emotional regulation, cognitive control performance, pain perception and management, and the promotion of pro-social behaviour and wellbeing in educational settings to mention just a few.

The Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Theme promotes and supports healthier living, ageing and wellbeing while providing solutions to chronic conditions and global health challenges such as cancer, diabetes and dementia. We work holistically across biomedical scientists, psychologists and healthcare practitioners to understand the individual and their health conditions.

The Healthy Ageing and Mental Wellbeing Research Centre is a community of researchers from the College of Science and Engineering and the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care. Researchers in the centre conduct research ranging from lab-based biomedical research to community-based behavioural and experiential research. This enables us to approach ageing and wellbeing issues in a very holistic way. It also enables us to firstly develop new knowledge and understanding, but then also to translate this knowledge into effective applications that can make a difference to people’s lives.  

We are excited to be able to advertise this role for a researcher who will contribute to the development of innovative research that takes place within the Health Aging and Mental Health Wellbeing Research Centre, in particular the lab based research in the area of Psychology. We have identified a number of ongoing projects that would benefit from the input of a researcher to complete experimental series conducing to research outcomes suitable for the REF 2029 submission (likely to be rated 3* or 4*). Examples of these research areas include (but do not limit to):

• Emotional regulation from nature connectedness;
• Emotional regulation interventions to promote pro-social behaviour and wellbeing in schools;
• Group singing and heart rate variability as an index of emotion regulation;
• Cross-modal correspondence and working memory performance;
• Mental representations and cognition in deaf and hearing individuals;
• Spatial training transfer to mathematics performance;
• Maths anxiety and mathematics performance and;
• Pain perception and management. 

The anticipated interview date is W/C Monday 28th April 2025.

We are seeking an experienced post-doctoral researcher with specific expertise in any relevant areas of experimental psychology. The post-holder should be able to contribute to the design and completion of behavioural lab-based and online experiments, and should have expertise and experience in one or more of the following: psychophysiological recordings (Heart Rate Variability; blood pressure; skin conductivity...); eye tracking technology; lab-based observation of parent-child interaction; online questionnaire surveys (e.g., Qualtrics); experimental online data collection (e.g., PsychoPy or similar).

1. Under the direction of the Head of School and the lead researchers for each project involved, contribute to the development of new knowledge and techniques to the relevant research project(s).
2. Contribute to the determination of appropriate research methodologies for the project(s).
3. Engage in data collection through a variety of setting e.g. in the lab, online and/or in applied settings.
4. Analyse research findings and determine the need for further investigation.
5. Contribute to the writing up of research findings and dissemination through publications or seminar and conference presentations.
6. Assist with the preparation of proposals and applications to both external and/or internal bodies for funding, contractual or accreditation purposes.
7. Assist in the development of student research skills, for example as part of a postgraduate supervision team.
8. Where opportunities exist, plan and manage own research activity and initiate research relevant to the discipline or research project(s).
9. Where opportunities exist within the research project(s), support the development and delivery of business engagement activities, developing entrepreneurial links with external organisations.
10. Contribute to the writing of collective bids for funding, and, where funders permit, write individual bids for funding with appropriate support.
11. Undertake appropriate training and staff development.

Other

1. Provide guidance as required to other colleagues working on related research project(s).
2. Assist and help informally students working in the same research discipline.
3. Develop internal and external contacts with other academic staff to form collaborative relationships and assist with their research project(s).
4. Understand own development needs and formulate a personal development plan.
5. Observe and implement University policies and procedures.
6. Closely work with the post holder and immediate team.