Senior Research Associate

Starting salary from £38,784 per annum pro rata, dependent on skills and experience, with an annual increment up to £46,049 per annum pro rata. 

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Research Associate to join the School of Psychology at UEA. The successful candidate will be part of the newly established policy research centre, a consortium of interdisciplinary experts from neuroscience, psychology, learning sciences, computer science, AI and machine learning, genetics and educational research. The centre is being led by UCL in partnership with Birkbeck and includes the following consortium partners: University of East Anglia, University of Surrey, Aston University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol and University of East London. The aim of the centre is to synthesise and translate the latest research related to educational neuroscience into policy and practice to ensure everyone – workforce and children/ young people – meets their potential. 

The new centre comprises 6 Strands of work. The successful candidate will join Strand 3, AI and New Technologies. You will be part of a strong team of experts who are at the forefront of educational neuroscience and AI in education. The breadth of expertise within the centre creates an efficient and powerful research environment equipped to address complex questions in educational neuroscience and to strengthen pathways to impact and rapid translation of research into practice. Strand 3 is led by Profs Spencer, Mareschal, and Porayska-Pomsta who are experts in AI, Machine Learning and learning in children. In addition, you may spend 30% of your time on rapid response questions that will inform policy (Strand 6). 

The post holder will join the Developmental Dynamic Laboratory at UEA, an active and productive research community conducting cutting edge work on a large range of topics in early development. The post holder will also contribute to the scholarly environment in the School of Psychology at UEA which has international strengths in developmental cognitive neuroscience. 

This part-time (0.5 FTE) post is available from 1 June 2026 on a fixed-term basis for 22 months (provided the centre’s performance criteria are met at 12 months). You are invited to apply for a post offered by the Birkbeck College, University of London (0.5 FTE), with the possibility of both posts being held by the same successful candidate.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. We particularly welcome applicants with the protected characteristic of disability for this post, as they are currently underrepresented in this type of role within the School of Psychology. Appointment will be made on merit and all applicants will be scored against the same criteria. 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and appointment will be subject to a criminal record check at Enhanced level from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Further information on our great benefits package, including 44 days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays and additional University Customary days (pro rata for part-time), can be found on our benefits page. 

Closing date: 18 May 2026

The University holds an Athena Swan Silver Institutional Award in recognition of our advancement towards gender equality.

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