Research Assistant

The closing date for applications is 23.59 on 3rd November 2025.
Interview Date : 14 November 2025.

The successful candidate will join a research team at the University of Reading (PI: Prof. Ludovica Serratrice) and the University of Greenwich (Co-I: Dr Alessandra Valentini, PDRA: Dr Stephanie Martin Vega) working on the UKRI-funded project Predictors of listening and reading comprehension in multilingual and monolingual children: do text type and modality matter?

The project investigates Year 3 multilingual and monolingual children’s comprehension of fiction and non-fiction oral and written texts in English.

This is a full-time post for 17 months, starting in January 2026. Data collection will take place in person at three primary schools within the same Learning Trust in Newham, East London.

The role will normally involve work during school hours (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) for testing sessions. Occasionally, attendance at school events such as parents’ evenings may be required in the late afternoon.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Liaise with schools and the PDRA to recruit multilingual and monolingual Year 3 children in East London.
• Assist caregivers on school premises in completing a language background questionnaire (Q-BEx).
• Administer language (vocabulary, grammar) and cognitive (memory, attention) tasks in English, together with the main comprehension tasks.
• Score all tasks following established protocols.
• Manage and archive data in compliance with relevant regulations.
• Support dissemination of findings to participating families and schools.
• Attend project team meetings and maintain regular communication with researchers to stay informed about ongoing project activities.
• Participate in relevant departmental events (e.g. lab meetings, seminars).
• Complete all mandatory training as required.

For more information, please contact:
Contact Name: Prof. Ludovica Serratrice
Contact Job Title: Professor of Multilingualism
Contact Email Address: l.serratrice@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name: Dr Alessandra Valentini
Alternative Contact Job Title: Lecturer in Psychology
Alternative Contact Email address: a.valentini@greenwich.ac.uk

The University is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and as such safeguarding checks will be undertaken. Safeguarding Requirements and Responsibilities:

• To undertake safeguarding training and follow the University’s Safeguarding Children & Adults at Risk Policy at all times.
• To report any disclosures or concerns using the Safeguarding Incident Form and submit this to the appropriate Designated Safeguarding Officer.

An Enhanced DBS with a child barred list check is required for this position. This role is a regulated activity. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Please see these links for information on Safeguarding and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Procedure, including Recruiting ex-offenders principles.

• An enhanced DBS check is required for this position.
• The University’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and make clear that safeguarding checks will be undertaken.
• The safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification, and whether the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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