Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The University 

The University of Cambridge is one of the world's leading academic institutions, renowned for its excellence in education, research, and innovation. For nearly 800 years, we've been at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries, shaping global knowledge across diverse fields. 

At Cambridge, our mission is to contribute to society through world-class education, learning, and research. With a deep respect for tradition and a bold vision for the future, we continue to shape the world through knowledge, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. 

The Role 

The Andrew and Virginia Rudd Research and Professional Practice Programme, Faculty of Education, seeks to appoint a full-time Research Assistant/Research Associate in Adoption Research, Prevention Science and Quantitative Methods. 

This is an exceptional and exciting opportunity to join a leading vibrant and supportive research team with a mission to advance new knowledge and insights into the psychological, social, individual, educational and community-based processes that underlie typical and atypical developmental outcomes for children and young people, with a particular focus on developing evidence-based practice models of benefit to families, schools, teachers, community health and other professional practitioners, policy makers and young people themselves. 

Where the successful applicant does not yet hold a PhD, they will be under appointed as a Research Assistant (Grade 5) in a Research Associate post. They will be promoted to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon successful completion of their PhD.

It may be possible to appoint an applicant who does not yet hold a PhD as Research Associate (Grade 7) if their previous experience is commensurate to that of a Research Associate. However, this is subject to relevant University approvals.

About You

Candidates will hold a PhD (or near completion) in Psychology, Education or in a cognate social science or related discipline and will have relevant research-focused experience in the areas of adoption, foster-care, father-child relationship dynamics, parental divorce and family court (England and Wales) child-centred research-informed service support, and knowledge of practitioner focused training and capability building in these areas.

The postholder is expected to work collaboratively with other programme members spanning multiple academic and professional practice disciplines.

The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and professional development objectives of the programme, including implementation of advanced quantitative methods aligned to the core areas of adoption research, foster-care, father-child relationship dynamics, parental divorce and family court (England and Wales) research-informed service delivery and support, with the primary objective of supporting and enhancing positive life chances for vulnerable families, parents/carers, children and young people.

The postholder will also support:

• The development of new research questions linked to primary programme objectives in the primary areas listed -facilitate the preparation of presentations to academic and non-academic audiences and key stakeholders
• Develop materials and deliver quantitative methods, prevention-intervention science and subject-specific practitioner-focused training and capability building
• Assist with the drafting of blogs and other non-technical communications, policy briefs and practice guidelines, assist with the writing up of research findings for publication
• Facilitate undergraduate, postgraduate and professional development training, engagement, and materials development aligned to relevant disciplinary domains (e.g. psychology, education, community and public health).

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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