Research Assistant - AINGEL (RED ID: 15329) (Fixed Term, 0.8 FTE)

Bournemouth University’s Human Computer Interaction Research Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

30 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Employee benefits

Job summary

Bournemouth University’s Human Computer Interaction Research Group is seeking a part-time Research Assistant to drive user testing and evaluation for the Cyber Self Defence Toolkit, a human-layer cyber resilience platform. The role collaborates with Cyber Innovations Group Ltd to validate and pilot the embedded AI-assisted capability, AiNGEiL.

The ideal candidate has a degree in cyber psychology, human factors, or cyber security, with experience in participant recruitment, usability testing and

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. cyber psychology, human factors, cyber security) or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity, human factors in security or social engineering research is desirable.
• Experience with validated psychometric instruments or comparable measures is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead user testing and evaluation across the Toolkit's five functional areas.
• Coordinate with CIG Ltd development team to translate findings into a pilot-ready product.
• Recruit participants and conduct structured interviews or usability tests; analyze quantitative data.

Skills

User testing

Quantitative data analysis

Structured interviews

Participant recruitment

Research ethics governance

Written communication

Project coordination

Education

Degree in cyber psychology / human factors / cyber security or equivalent

Tools

SeBIS

Brief Resilience Scale

Perceived Stress Scale

Job description

About the role

The School of Computing & Engineering is looking to recruit a Research Assistant to support a nine-month programme of work delivered by Bournemouth University in collaboration with Cyber Innovations Group Ltd, . The project commercially validates the Cyber Self Defence (CSD) Toolkit, a human-layer cyber resilience platform helping non-technical users in SMEs, charities and regulated organisations recognise, respond to and recover from social engineering and cyber incidents, and develops AiNGEiL, the Toolkit's embedded AI-assisted capability. The Research Assistant will lead the project's user testing and evaluation activities across the Toolkit's five functional areas, working closely with the CIG Ltd development team to translate research findings into a validated, pilot-ready product.

You will have a degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. cyber psychology, human factors, cyber security), or equivalent experience. Familiarity with cybersecurity, human factors in security or social engineering research (desirable) and experience with validated psychometric instruments (e.g. SeBIS, Brief Resilience Scale, Perceived Stress Scale) or comparable measures are desirable, as well as experience of working across an academic/commercial partnership or knowledge-exchange context (desirable). You will be familiar with participant recruitment and running user research, structured interviews or usability testing, be competent in quantitative data analysis and research ethics governance. You will have excellent written communication and strong organisational skills with the ability to co-ordinate multiple stakeholders — academic, commercial and participant — concurrently and to a fixed project timeline.

This post is offered on a part-time, 29.6 hours (0.8 FTE) fixed term basis until the end of June 2027.

This position does not meet the eligibility requirements for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route within the UK Visa and Immigration service’s Points Based System. Therefore, BU will not be able to sponsor individuals who require permission to work to carry out this position. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.

About the department

Our vibrant Faculty of Media, Science & Technology encompasses a wide range of disciplines across four Schools: the School of Computing & Engineering, the National Centre for Computer Animation, The Media School and the School of Psychology. The breadth of subject areas in the Faculty means our cutting-edge research is delivering real benefits to digital creative industries, simulation domains, cyber security, human centred artificial intelligence, cognitive science and many others. Our staff base includes high profile researchers who are involved in both UK and global consortia of externally funded collaborations, furthering knowledge in the aforementioned areas plus many more, thus providing significant impact to the economy as well as society and, ultimately, the quality of living across the globe.

About us

At Bournemouth University, our motto is Discere Mutari Est - To learn is to change. Guided by our BU2035 strategy, we are building a future-focused university that empowers people to thrive, embraces innovation, and creates lasting impact through education, research and partnerships.

Our success is driven by our people. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels they belong, can develop their potential and contribute to work that makes a difference. Whether through advancing knowledge, improving lives, strengthening communities or supporting economic growth, our staff play a vital role in shaping the future.

We are committed to attracting, developing and retaining talented people who share our values of being collaborative and inclusive, innovative and creative, empowering and ambitious, and responsible and transformative. Flexible working and job share arrangements will be considered to support a healthy work-life balance.

More than just a job, working at BU gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, alongside access to a fantastic range of staff benefits.

Core Package

• PAY – a competitive salary with opportunities for pay progression
• PENSION – a valuable defined benefit pension with generous employer contributions
• HOLIDAY – Annual leave entitlement of 30 days plus bank holidays and winter closure (pro rata if part time)
• WORK LIFE BALANCE – flexible working arrangements including opportunities for hybrid working and flexitime (role dependant)

You will also have access to a wide range of voluntary benefits:

• Health & Wellbeing: Employee assistance programme, dental care scheme, health cash plan
• Financial & Discounts: Discounts including a reduction of fees for family members who study at BU
• Travel: Cycle to work scheme, secure bike stores, showers and lockers, free bus travel between campuses, discounted bus travel
• Sports & Activities: Sport BU has a wide range of activities which staff can access
• Family: Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, on-site nursery with discounts for BU staff
• Modern, vibrant campus locations: Bright and flexible work and meeting spaces, with on-site food outlets and coffee shops

A job description for this position is available at the top of this page. If you require this in a different format, please contact us at [e-mail].