Research Assistant

We are seeking to appoint a research assistant, to work within the Developing Social Minds Lab (PI Dr Livia Tomova) at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre.

The postholder will work on a Wellcome funded project on the impacts of loneliness and social isolation on adolescents. The main duties for this role will be running fMRI experiments with adolescents measuring how social isolation impacts the processing of aversive and rewarding cues.

The successful applicant will already have some experience with brain imaging (either collecting data/analysing themselves or having completed a MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience or Brain Imaging). Experience working with adolescents or children would be a great advantage. The successful applicant should enjoy data analysis and working with complex data and will have some experience with advanced statistical analysis. An interest in the topics of loneliness, social isolation and adolescent development is expected.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Livia Tomova: tomoval@cardiff.ac.uk.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), is fixed term for 3 years, is available from October 2026 and is based at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). There is an opportunity to complete a PhD degree within this post, and applicants are strongly encouraged to make use of this opportunity.

The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.

Salary: £33,951 - £36,636 per annum (Grade 5). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances, however, for this position, the starting salary is capped at £33,951 (point 25) due to limited funding.
 
Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl. bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It's an exciting and vibrant place to work with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter. Business needs will require some degree of office-based working but the balance of time can be spent in the office or remotely (subject to agreement with the line manager).

Closing date: Thursday, 2 April 2026

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Advert information