Research Assistant

Lancaster University; Sheldon; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Lancaster University invites applications for a part-time Research Assistant to join the Sport and Exercise Science research team. The role focuses on a psycho-physiology project using remote physiological monitoring to study listening effort in older adults in daily life.

Based on Health Innovation One on campus, the 8–10 hours/week post runs initially 4–5 months from 14 December 2026 to 12 April 2027. You will assist with recruitment, data collection, and data analysis under senior supervision.

Qualifications

• Lancaster University Sport and Exercise Science student, or Natural Sciences student with SaES modules, 2.1 minimum (UG) or relevant PG experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Enthusiasm for scientific research with ageing/health focus and willingness to learn
• Proactive, independent, and a team player with deadlines and organisation

Responsibilities

• General management and planning of research studies
• Recruitment of research participants and distributing advertisement materials on Lancaster networks
• Liaising with research team and participants to organise participation
• Collecting and managing research data (in-person and online)
• Supporting data analysis and dissemination of research findings

Skills

Collaboration

Multi-tasking

Curiosity

Creativity

Integrity

Organisation

Leadership

Self-motivation

Time management

Verbal communication

Written communication

Education

Lancaster University Sport and Exercise Science (or Natural Sciences student undertaking SaES modules) UG student averaging a minimum of a 2.1 in their degree, or PG student with relevant experience

Job description

Seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and research-interested Lancaster University Sport and Exercise Science student to join our research team as a causal Research Assistant. The research assistant will work on a psycho-physiology project, aiming to investigate the use of mobile physiological monitoring to track and understand the effort older adults use for listening activities during everyday life. The appointed research assistant will work on a flexible, part-time basis, for an initial period of 4-5 months in the first instance. This is an exciting research project, that aims to use remote physiological monitoring to understand one of the most common communication challenges that older adults face. The research assistant will gain hands on experience of research including participant recruitment, testing older adults, and using state-of-the-art psychophysiological equipment and methodologies. The research assistant will work under the guidance and supervision of Dr Kate Slade within Lancaster Medical School, and Dr Helen Nuttall within the Department of Psychology. Start Date: 14th December 2026 End Date: 12th April 2027 Interview Date: Expected to be at the end of November 2026 or during December 2026. Working Pattern: Aproximately 8-10 hours per week. Some stages of the project may require more time (e.g., data collection), while other stages may require less. We are sensitive to your scheduling and hours are negotiable during busy periods. Location: On the Lancaster University campus (Primarily in Health Innovation One, As a Research Assistant, you will manage and support new and ongoing research projects that are focused on understanding how physiological signals can be used to monitor and understand hearing and listening behaviour older adults. The aim of the research conducted within Dr Slade's team is to better understand and improve healthy ageing. Responsibilities will typically include:

• General management and planning of research studies
• Recruitment of research participants (creating and distributing advertisement materials across Lancaster using both established and new networks)
• Liaising with the research team and with research participants to organise their participation
• Collecting and responsible management of research data (both collected in-person and online)
• Supporting with data analysis and research dissemination (including academic writing, Informal enquiries relating to this role can be directed towards Dr Kate Slade:

Qualifications

• Lancaster University Sport and Exercise Science (or Natural Sciences student undertaking SaES modules) UG student averaging a minimum of a 2.1 in their degree, or PG student with relevant experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Enthusiasm for scientific research, with a particular focus on ageing and health, as well as a drive to understand and facilitate the research process
• Willingness to develop and learn new skills, and gain transferable skills
• Proactive and able to work independently
• Team player able to work well collaboratively
• Reliable and able to work to meet deadlines and has an accurate, organised, and methodical approach to work

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience conducting research
• Previous experience working or volunteering with older adults in the community

Skills and Experience

• Collaboration
• Multi-tasking
• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Integrity
• Organisation
• Leadership
• Self-motivation
• Time Management
• Verbal communication
• Written communication

Share Help and advice on making applications can be found on the Lancaster University Careers pages.