Research Assistant - Digital Platforms

Fixed Term contract for 36 months

Hours per week: 18.12

Interview date: Tuesday 16^th April 2024

We’re here to create and harness knowledge, to deliver opportunity for everyone.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant – Digital Platforms, to be part of the thriving Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing at Edge Hill University working on a UKRI funded study titled: 

Arts4us: Working together to scale up place-based arts initiatives that support the mental health of children and young people.

The project builds on extensive work on research on the Arts for the Blues project and related work with children and young people over more than 25 years.

This study aims to generate new, scalable evidence concerning:

(A) how to access arts activities that best support the mental health of children and young people.

(B) how to evaluate arts activities that meet the diverse mental health needs of children and young people.

(C) how to maximise the benefit of arts activities for as many children and young people as possible.

The project will involve the use of a digital platform where evidence-based local arts activities will become easily accessible for children and young people, their families, relevant organisations and services. 

The post holder will provide quality research support to an enthusiastic team of academics leading research tasks within the project - designing, implementing, and deploying an accessible digital platform where the data from evidence-based local arts activities will be pre-processed, stored and analysed to provide cutting-edge visualisation techniques, as well as suitable predicative analytics approaches.

For informal enquiries about this vacancy, please contact: Prof Marcello Trovati, Professor of Computer Science trovatim@edgehill.ac.uk or Prof Vicky Karkou, Director of the Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, karkouv@edgehill.ac.uk

About you

As Research Assistant – Digital Platforms, you will be:

• Experienced in designing and executing research using appropriate data science and AI software development, such as Agile development methodology. 
• Experienced in Database technologies, design and implementation, based on cyber-safe frameworks. 
• An Advanced user of appropriate software for data analysis such as Python and the appropriate data science and AI libraries. 
• Able to work on own initiative, independently as well as part of a team. 
• Able to organise and prioritise work effectively demonstrating flexibility and reliability to meet required. 
• Able to demonstrate high level skills in the use of Microsoft Office including Excel, Word and creating databases.
• Able to work within ethical guidelines and maintain high levels of research integrity at all times, including the management of research data.

It is important to note that the successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure for you from the Disclosure and Barring Service and that this will form part of the conditions of offer of employment. 

Internal staff wishing to apply for a fixed term role as a secondment opportunity must discuss this with their existing line manager before applying.

At Edge Hill University we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Rewards & Benefits

• A minimum of 36 days annual leave per annum, (inclusive of bank holiday and University closure days) 
• Free foreign language evening classes
• Discounted membership to our onsite state-of-the-art sport and leisure facilities
• Staff benefits scheme, which provides you with discounts across the high street, supermarket shopping, cinema tickets, dining out and more.
• Employee assistance programme with access to free confidential counselling sessions, legal & financial advice, and health & wellbeing resources.
• A wide range of development programmes to enhance your career.
• Beautiful award-winning on-campus working environment.
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme with our employer contribution of 17.8%

Click to view our rewards and benefits package. 

About us 

At Edge Hill University we believe in the life changing opportunities knowledge can create. Since 1885, we’ve been creating access to knowledge for those who may not have had the opportunity to before.

Today, the effect we have has a far-reaching impact, not just for those who come to study here but for those who work, invest in, and live in our local communities too. So, if you’ve ever wondered if one person can make a difference, simply speak to our alumni, students, and award-winning staff.

Because for us education isn’t about how much you take in. It’s about what you take out into the world.

Inspiring minds and changing futures since 1885, Edge Hill University is “A great success story… an institution that improves and impresses year after year” – Times Higher Education.

Further details:

Staff Recruitment, Payroll & Pension Services Helpdesk
Edge Hill University
SRPShelpdesk@edgehill.ac.uk