Research Assistant - Durham University

Applications are invited for a fixed-term position in the Department of Psychology at Durham University. The successful candidate will join the research project 'Let's drink on it? The overlooked neuromotivational impact of positive affect on alcohol use and addiction' led by Dr Niklas Ihssen and Professor Milica Vasiljevic, which is funded by the Hetzler Foundation. The project aims to gather quantitative data about how momentary emotional states influence the decision to drink alcohol. The project will involve a large-scale experimental study conducted in the Department’s ‘Bar Lab’ in which participants will be presented with a series of game-like tasks and offered the opportunity to consume alcohol. The successful candidate will work on all phases of the study, including study set-up and design, recruitment, data collection, data analysis and writing up the results for publication. The RA will also contribute to a potential pilot study testing a small sample of participants with an adapted version of the paradigm in an MRI scanner.

Responsibilities:

• To prepare study materials/study protocols and assist with experiment programming, and ethics applications.
• To manage recruitment of research participants and the day-to-day running of the study (e.g. lab bookings, contact with participants, data management).
• To test groups or individual research participants in the Department's 'Bar Lab'.
• To support the development and piloting of a fMRI version of the research study.
• To contribute to Open Science practices (e.g. submitting the study design for pre-registration).
• To draft manuscripts for publication based on the research.
• To understand and convey information which needs careful explanation to diverse audiences (members of lab teams: research groups), discussions and meetings which contribute to the production of research reports and publications.
• To write up results of research work, present information on research progress and outcomes to the project supervisors in a clear and accurate manner.
• To undertake and analyse basic research by deciding how best to apply existing methodology according to overall context and objectives.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the project supervisors and offering creative or innovative solutions. 
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by attending relevant training and development courses.   

This post is fixed term for 28 hours (0.8 FTE) for 12 months. The funding is available from 01/10/25 for this fixed period only.

The post-holder is employed to work on a research project which will be led by Dr Ihssen and Professor Vasiljevic. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in their own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1st October 2025.