Research Assistant

Full time fixed term contract until 31^st January 2029

Hours per week: 37.5

About the role

Indoor air quality can have a real impact on respiratory health, and this is exactly what the CLEAR-IT study sets out to investigate. The study works directly with households across the community to collect real-world data on air quality and health.

This Research Assistant post supports the human exposure strand of the study. The role covers explaining the study to households, coordinating their involvement, and working with them to collect reliable data on their air quality and health.

The work involves:

• Engaging participants - introducing the study to households, answering questions, and building trust so people take part with confidence
• Home visits - installing, checking and collecting air monitoring equipment
• Data collection - gathering respiratory and exposure-related measurements
• Equipment preparation - testing and readying sampling kits before each visit
• Record-keeping - maintaining clear, accurate records that meet ethical and quality standards
• Team meetings - taking part in regular project meetings and sharing progress updates
• Fieldwork problem-solving - adapting plans and handling issues independently as they arise during visits

The Principal Investigator leads the wider project team, with support strongest in the early stages. As the post-holder's experience grows, so does the scope for independent fieldwork and ownership.

This work matters: it builds real, practical knowledge in community-based environmental health research, feeding directly into a study with genuine public health relevance. The post sits within the Department of Physics, working alongside the wider CLEAR-IT team of researchers and partners - a team that values strong results and strong working relationships equally.

Post details: this is a fixed-term role for 27 months, working 37.5 hours a week - a solid base for a career in field-based research, with clear scope to grow both technical skill and independent judgement over time.

About you

We're looking for someone with an honours degree (or equivalent relevant experience) in a health, environmental, biological or related discipline, who is comfortable working independently in participants' homes and out in the community.

You'll bring practical experience of working on research studies involving human participants, along with experience collecting data or samples in community or non-laboratory settings. A driving licence and willingness to travel to participant homes across Leicester area is essential, as is confidence engaging with people from a wide range of backgrounds: explaining the study clearly, gaining informed consent, and maintaining participant engagement over time.

Strong organisational skills are key: you'll need to prioritise your own workload, manage equipment logistics, and keep accurate, compliant records under guidance from the Principal Investigator. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, and any prior experience of home- or field-based research, working with diverse or underserved populations, or environmental/exposure monitoring would be a real advantage. Above all, we're after someone enthusiastic about contributing to high-quality, ethically robust research that makes a genuine impact on public health.

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