University of Birmingham
Research Associate
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Research Associate
Position Details
School of Psychology
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Salary: Full-time starting salary £33,002 – £35,608, with potential progression to £39,906 upon appointment. Grade 6, Full-Time, Fixed-Term contract (up to September 2027).
Closing date: 19 July 2026
Background
We welcome applications for a Research Associate / Lab Manager in the Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH). This is an inclusive, collaborative environment where colleagues thrive and achieve their professional goals.
The role involves providing Research Assistant services to Dr. Jo Cutler for her projects on social decision-making and information seeking. Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting participant recruitment and testing
- Collecting and analysing neuroimaging data (fMRI & MEG)
- Assisting with finance administration
- Contributing to manuscript writing and research outputs
- Possible attendance at academic conferences
The successful candidate will also collaborate closely with:
- The Social Decision Neuroscience Lab (SDN-Lab) – led by Professor Patricia Lockwood
- The Motivation & Social Neuroscience Lab (MSN-Lab) – led by Professor Matthew Apps (Accessible via www.sdn-lab.org and www.msn-lab.com)
Further responsibilities include attending joint lab meetings. This position is funded as part of a Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellowship, with a minimum contract of 1 year (extension possible).
Role Summary
- Participate in recruitment and testing procedures.
- Assist with collecting neuroimaging data (fMRI & MEG).
- Handle administrative duties, including:
- Finance and expense management
- Ethical approval processes
- Website development/maintenance
- Lab organisation
- Program experimental tasks and perform basic data analysis using R, Python, or MATLAB.
- Contribute to academic manuscripts for publication.
- Support other colleagues in their research activities.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Main Duties
- Collect research data (behavioural experiments & neuroimaging).
- Analyse research data under direction.
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts of posters/seminars.
- Develop or adapt methods, techniques, and models.
- Provide support and guidance to staff and students assisting in research.
- Troubleshoot issues impacting research objectives/delays.
- Perform directly relevant administrative tasks for research delivery.
- Promote equality and champion diversity, fostering an inclusive culture by modelling fair and equitable behaviour.
Person Specification: Qualifications & Experience
Educational Requirements
- A BA/BSc degree in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, or a related field, with a minimum classification of a strong upper second-class (2:1) honours.
- A completed or near-completion of an MSc in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, or relevant discipline is highly desirable.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in participant recruitment and testing.
- Proficiency in programming (MATLAB, R, or Python) and statistical analysis.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite.
- Experience with collecting neuroimaging data.
- Knowledge or involvement in social decision-making, information-seeking research, or related fields.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Inclusivity & Working Practice
- Understanding of the Equality Act 2010’s protected characteristics and commitment to neutral, fair treatment in day-to-day activities.
- Resourcefulness with strong organisational skills, able to act autonomously.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Informal Enquiries
Contact: Laila Waraich (l.waraich@bham.ac.uk).
Application Instructions
-
Submit a CV (uncurated) and a cover letter (max. 2 pages), detailing:
- Your interest in the role
- How prior research experience would contribute to Dr. Jo Cutler’s projects
-
For further reference: Visit our staff values and behaviours page.
Festive AI Use Policy
“We seek genuine reflections of your skills and style—applications overly reliant on AI tools may appear generic and won’t progress beyond the screening stage.”
Diversity Commitment: The University of Birmingham celebrates diversity in all its forms, values differences, and actively promotes inclusion. Recognised for Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter, and Disability Confident accreditations, we strive to create an equitable workplace. More details at our EDI Centre. Sustainability is also a core strategy.
For more on our inclusive commitment visit: [link-created-inclusive-university]
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills