Newcastle University
Research Assistant/ Associate
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Salary:
Research Assistant £33,951 - £35,608 per annum pro rata
Research Associate £36,636 - £37,694 per annum pro rata
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.
Closing Date: 30 August 2026
The Role
You will lead a project aiming to make progress with the development and delivery of a new form of sound therapy for tinnitus (persistent ringing in the ear(s)), which has shown some early indicators of success in quieting tinnitus. You will work with a newly-developed iOS and Android app, and its web-based researcher portal, recruiting volunteers with tinnitus to test this out, running focus groups for their experiences, and setting up and running a first 1-2 rounds of clinical trials run through the app.
You will join an internationally leading auditory neuroscience group, based in Newcastle University Medical School. Your work will be overseen by a supervisory and collaborative team, in Newcastle University, with input from a researcher in Zurich, Switzerland, and a tinnitus patient expert in Sheffield.
The aim of this project is to improve this form of tinnitus sound therapy – termed Acoustic Ripple Therapy (ART) – in its acceptability, efficacy in quieting tinnitus and tailoring to the needs of the tinnitus community, to bring it closer to commercial release. You will be the central figure in this project, running all activities, taking charge of using the app and delivering trials, and liaising with all team members. You will not be required to modify or create the app itself, which is already built, but will liaise with the software developer for any modifications required. You are not required to create or adapt new forms of sound therapy, but there is substantial opportunity to use your creativity and/or acoustic signal processing skills to do this, should you wish.
The project is ambitious and time-critical. In order to be appointable to this post, you must have established technical skills in auditory science, acoustic signal processing, statistical data analysis (including large datasets ideally) and research coding.
To apply, you must hold a PhD or equivalent in a relevant research area. The post aims to start on the 1st of September 2026, but this could be delayed slightly. The fixed end date is 28th February 2027, irrespective of the start date.
We follow the Researcher Development Concordat: Researcher Development | Our Research | Newcastle University. We enable all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This commitment secures our thriving research culture and vibrant research environment. Our offer to each individual and their researcher development includes mentoring, annual research planning discussions, pooled research funding to support career development and research activities, peer review support for the development of research and innovation funding applications.
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For informal enquiries contact: Dr William Sedley: william.sedley@newcastle.ac.uk. Dr Sedley is the line manager for the position. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr Sedley before applying.
To apply formally, please submit a CV and covering letter indicating how you meet the key requirements for the post, and any other information you wish to highlight.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed over online videoconferencing. We intend that interviews will take place within a week of the application window closing.
As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.
Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: Faculty of Medical Sciences | Faculty of Medical Sciences | Newcastle University
Find out more about our Research Institutes: Translational and Clinical Research Institute | Faculty of Medical Sciences | Newcastle University
Contact for the post is william.sedley@newcastle.ac.uk
Duration of post is until 28/02/2027
Key Accountabilities
Research Assistant
- Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
- Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
- Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
- Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
- Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate
Research Associate
- Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
- Determine appropriate methodologies for research
- Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
- Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
- Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
- Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
- Run an online advertising campaign for recruitment of participants with tinnitus
- Oversee and conduct the programme of research specified in the description, to the point of completion
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The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Research Assistant
- Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
- Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
- Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
- Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
- Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
- The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.
In addition for Research Associate
- Awareness of the research environment
- High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
- Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
- Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications
- Experience in acoustic signal processing
- Experience in statistical analysis of large datasets
Attributes and Behaviour
- Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
- Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
- Commitment to continued professional development
- Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity
Qualifications
Research Assistant
- Honours degree in a neuroscience, psychology or engineering subject relevant to auditory or tinnitus neuroscience
In addition for Research Associate
- PhD in a neuroscience, psychology or engineering subject relevant to auditory or tinnitus neuroscience
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 29661
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