Research Assistant​/Associate

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Research Assistant/Associate to join a CLEFT Bridging the Gap funded study to investigate the feasibility of measuring sleep and speech and language development in young children with cleft lip & palate: the Sleepy Heads feasibility study.

This study is led by Dr Stephanie van Eeden and Dr Vic Knowland.

The postholder should have a PhD in a relevant discipline e.g. Speech and Language Sciences, Education, Psychology, Linguistics (Research Associate); candidates close to submission of their PhD may be considered at Research Assistant level.

The postholder will be responsible for setting up and implementing mixed methods data collection with families in the North East and Cumbria, and subsequent data coding and analysis. They will also be actively involved in writing and dissemination of research outcomes, and in engagement beyond academic audiences.

We are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment. We would be happy to discuss arrangements for flexible working, including a combination of working on campus and remotely, and flexibility around start and finish times, appropriate to the needs of the role. However, please note that responsibilities of this role, linked to delivering the Sleepy Heads feasibility study within the community, will necessitate regular in-person sessions across the North East and Cumbria.

The post holder will be required to be a car driver and hold/undergo an enhanced DBS check.

This post is part-time 0.4 FTE for 14.8 hours a week.

Interview will be held on the 30th June.

• Organising mixed methods data collection, including set up, implementation and analysis.
• Working directly with families of children with cleft lip & palate age 1-6.
• Working closely with external stakeholders in the NHS.
• Conducting research-related administration to ensure ethical research procedures and security of data management.
• Developing and maintaining knowledge of relevant research findings and policy/practice developments.
• Collaboratively working to prepare research outcomes for submission to high-quality refereed journals, presentation at national academic and practitioner conferences, and reports to funder.
• Undertaking appropriate training and career enhancement activities, including the development of skills relevant to wider academic responsibilities.

• Theoretical knowledge of children’s sleep and/or speech and language development (E)
• Knowledge of observational research methodology (E)
• Data analysis skills with both qualitative and quantitative data sets (E)
• Experience working with young children and families for research data collection (E)
• Awareness of and sensitivity to needs of research participants from diverse cultural backgrounds (E)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate complex information effectively with varied stakeholders (E)

• Ability to engage in ongoing, structured reflection to evaluate and improve performance (E)
• Ability to travel to research sites in the North East and Cumbria (E)
• Systematic approach to project planning, time-management, organisation and prioritisation, with the ability to set and update realistic goals (E)
• Collegial contributions to project work as a part of an interdisciplinary team (E)
• Commitment to personal career development appropriate to the expectations and opportunities of the position (E)

• Driving license (E)
• Appointment subject to an up-to-date enhanced DBS check (E)

• A fully completed and awarded PhD in Speech and Language Sciences, Education, Psychology, Linguistics or a closely related discipline.

• Working towards or nearing completion of a PhD (submission within 3 months maximum) in Speech…