Research Assistant

About the Role

We are seeking a Research Assistant to join the DM² Lab, the Decision-Making and Metacognition Lab, to support a research project investigating how people monitor their own progress during motor learning. The project centres on metacognition in motor learning, aiming at studying how people become aware of improvements in their motor performance when learning a new motor task.

The postholder will work with Dr Keiji Ota and Dr Lucie Charles. The role will involve programming an online motor-skill game using tools such as JavaScript, Unity, Gorilla, or related web-development environments; piloting experiments; maintaining accurate research records; and conducting preliminary behavioural and statistical analyses. The postholder may also contribute to summarising findings and supporting presentations or publications.

The post is based at the Mile End Campus in London, although presence on campus is not necessarily required. It is a part-time, fixed-term appointment for 3 months, at 14 hours per week, with an expected start date of 1 October 2026.

About You

You will hold a Master’s degree, or have equivalent experience, in Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, or a related field. You should have experience supporting research projects and an interest in decision-making and metacognition.

Programming skills, particularly in web development and/or computer programming, are essential. Experience with JavaScript, Unity, Matlab, or related tools would be an advantage.

Experience developing code for behavioural experiments, designing experimental psychology studies, and analysing behavioural data would also be desirable. An interest in learning motor skills in virtual (video games) and real environments is a plus.

About the School 

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is a large and dynamic academic unit, with a strong multi-disciplinary focus on teaching and research. The school has well-established links with industry, offering students a stimulating and supportive learning experience.  In addition, the school is committed to fostering an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are heard and respected, as recognised by a departmental-level Silver Athena SWAN Award.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

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