Research Assistant x2

• Salary
• £35,608 - £38,784 pro rata per annum - Grade 6
• Contractual hours
• 14.8
• Basis
• PT Temporary Parttime All Year
• Interview date
• To be confirmed
• Job category/type
• Academic/Research
• Date posted
• 27/08/2026
• Job reference

B1375

Are you a friendly, approachable person with some experience of research, who enjoys working with children and their families?

About the role

These posts involves data collection from families of autistic children in community or NHS venues in County Durham and Teeside. These posittons also require some home working. You must be located in the UK, close to County Durham and Teeside.

Under the guidance of the principal investigator and as a member of the team, you will be responsible for the delivery of research support to the designated project, undertaking basic research, including collecting data from families of autistic children, and providing research and administrative support to the academic colleagues responsible for the project and/or research centre.

You will:

• Undertake basic research e.g. preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcomes of interventions for families of autistic children
• Perform basic data collection using a variety of appropriate techniques as required.
• Assist with quantitative and/or qualitative analysis as directed by the academic research manager.
• Liaising with a network of internal and external contacts to assist with the work on the project as appropriate.
• Assisting the academic principal investigator and other team members with the day-to-day administration and organisation of the research as necessary.

These are part-time positions working 14.8 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 30 months.

For more information on School of Law Humanities and Social Sciences please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools

Due to the nature of this role, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check plus a Children’s Barred List and Adults Barred List check will be required.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Rebecca Stancer: by email at rebecca.stancer@plymouth.ac.uk

You will have:

• First degree or equivalent
• Work experience in therapeutic family or child support setting
• Experience of both qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques
• Knowledge of and experience undertaking observational research and analysing generated data
• Knowledge of and experience undertaking focus groups with families including children, and analysing generated data
• Experience of working with families of children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or other neurodevelopmental conditions
• Ability to prioritise and self-manage
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to sensitively communicate with families and children with developmental disorders

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

About us

SAFE (Systemic Autism-related Family Enabling) is a novel family therapy support package for families of autistic children. SAFE is supported by The National Institute of Health Research as part of their portfolio and this research project is the largest ever conducted trial of Family Therapy for autism across the globe.

The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our two strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Earth Institute. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today’s global challenges.

Application Process

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Our Offer

We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:

• Generous annual leave : 25* Days Annual Leave (pro rata if part-time) plus Bank Holidays* & Closure Days*
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery
• Pro rata if part-time/fixed term contract

Additional Information

The University of Plymouth is building an inclusive and equitable university where everyone feels represented, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is guided by the Inclusive Institutions Framework, a strategic and externally validated approach that embeds these principles across the entire institution. To find out more please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages