Find More Than 10K+
United Kingdom Jobs

Part time (0.75 FTE)
Fixed term for 12 months

The closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday 19 July 2023.
Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 21 August 2023.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This role will require membership of the PVG scheme. An offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory outcome of this process.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities, in cooperation with the Faculty of Natural Sciences is offering a fixed term, 12 month contract on a part time basis (0.75 FTE) as Research Assistant on the multidisciplinary research project entitled ‘Agency, Rationality and Epistemic Defeat’ funded by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme.

The Research Assistant will work in collaboration with Dr Giacomo Melis (Philosophy, Principal Investigator), Dr Kirsten Blakey (Developmental Psychology, Postdoctoral Research Fellow) Dr Eva Rafetseder (Developmental Psychology, Co-Investigator) and Dr Zsófia Virányi (Animal Cognition, Co-Investigator) of the Messerli Research Institute (University of Veterinary medicine, Vienna) on a multidisciplinary research project entitled ‘Agency, Rationality and Epistemic Defeat’ funded by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme.

The successful applicant is expected to start this post between mid-September and early October at the latest.

Outline of the Project

The project is articulated in a broadly philosophical and broadly empirical part, which will progress in parallel and will be driven by the interactive work of the core team. The more philosophical part will develop a theory of rational belief-revision that will apply to the various agents discussed in philosophy and cognitive science, and which will focus on the notion of epistemic defeat. The more empirical part will use such theory to design and run novel comparative cognitive tests on pre-verbal children, pigs, and dogs aimed at assessing whether they may be capable of some form of reflective thinking. The experiments with human infants will be designed and executed in the psychology division of the University of Stirling.

Please visit www.ared.stir.ac.uk for more details.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Kirsten Blakey, email: [email protected]

• Assisting in supervising student research assistants
• Taking responsibility for participant recruitment including establishing and maintaining good relationships required to facilitate this
• Contribute to quantitative data analysis and management of datasets
• Have regular meetings with the project team to track progress, resolve any practical, technical or analytical issues
• Contribute to manuscript preparation as a co-author
• Contributing to the public engagement activities of the project

• Honours degree (minimum 2:1) or Masters degree in Psychology
• Proficient use of Microsoft software (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook) and statistical software (R) for the analysis of quantitative data
• Experience of experimental data collection with young children
• Strong organisational, data management, and data analysis skills
• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to set and meet deadlines
• Demonstrable ability to identify problems and propose solutions
• Flexibility and enthusiasm and a willingness to learn and develop new skills

• Postgraduate qualification in Psychology
• Experience of software to develop and/or deliver experimental stimuli (PsychoPy, Tobii Pro Lab, E-Prime)
• Experience using eye-tracking equipment
• Experience in drafting papers for publication and report-writing
• Experience of working in a research or knowledge exchange environment
• Experience of student supervision

The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University – also home to 1,700 staff – is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

The University is a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni