Research Assistant

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a part-time research assistant for the TANDA project in Glasgow. This role involves conducting qualitative research with children and young people, supporting participant recruitment, and analyzing data. A background in psychology or neuroscience at the SCQF Level 10 is required, and experience in qualitative methodologies is essential. The position offers a flexible working environment and is part of a collaborative initiative with NHS Ayrshire & Arran to enhance crisis care for youth. Salary ranges from £33,951 to £37,694 per annum, pro rata.

Benefits

41 days leave for full-time staff

Pension benefits

Health and wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Experience in research methodologies and qualitative interviewing.
• Understanding of child and adolescent mental health.
• Research experience aligned with early career researcher.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research as per study protocol.
• Recruit participants and ensure ethical compliance.
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data.
• Support qualitative interviews with young people and families.
• Coordinate follow-ups and study logistics.

Skills

Qualitative interviewing

Data management

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

IT competence (MS Office, Qualtrics, NVivo)

Education

SCQF Level 10 (Honours degree) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Public Health

Master's degree in relevant discipline

Tools

Qualtrics

NVivo

SPSS/Excel

Job description

Job Purpose

You will contribute to the The Feasibility of Therapeutic Assessment and Neuro-Divergence Assessment (TANDA) project, working with Dr. Jason Lang, Dr. Helen Smith, and Ms. Annemarie MacRae, with support from Professor Dennis Ougrin and colleagues in NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

This is an exciting feasibility study investigating the integration of Therapeutic Assessment (TA) with rapid neurodevelopmental assessment tools (ESSENCE-D and NEURO-Obs) within crisis care for children and young people (CYP) who present following self-harm or suicidal ideation. The project aims to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and implementation of this innovative model of integrated care within NHS services.

You will assist in all aspects of the study, including participant recruitment and follow-up, data collection (quantitative and qualitative), liaison with clinical teams, and analysis of findings. The role will also involve supporting ethics and governance processes, qualitative interviewing with young people, parents, and clinicians, and contributing to dissemination through reports, presentations, and publications.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Plan and conduct assigned research in accordance with the study protocol, contributing to the achievement of project deliverables.
2. Recruit study participants through collaboration with NHS clinicians in the CAMHS Urgent and Acute Intervention Team (CUAIT), ensuring informed consent and ethical compliance.
3. Collect quantitative and qualitative data, including administration of surveys via Qualtrics, conducting semi-structured interviews (online and in person), and maintaining accurate research records.
4. Assist clinicians and families with completion of the NA ESSENCE-D digital questionnaire, ensuring secure data handling and troubleshooting minor technical issues where required.
5. Coordinate follow-up procedures with families, including scheduling interviews, sending reminders, and supporting completion of participant feedback surveys.
6. Conduct and transcribe qualitative interviews with children, young people, families, and clinicians, and contribute to thematic analysis using NVivo (or equivalent).
7. Maintain accurate and secure study documentation, including recruitment logs, consent forms, and pseudonymised datasets in compliance with GDPR and University/NHS governance standards.
8. Support data analysis and contribute to interpretation and write‑up of findings for interim and final reports, academic publications, and conference presentations.
9. Liaise with NHS colleagues, including clinicians, IT teams, and research governance officers, to facilitate smooth study delivery within clinical pathways.
10. Contribute to research team meetings, project planning, and coordination across the University of Glasgow, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, and partner institutions.
11. Assist with public engagement and dissemination, including production of plain‑language summaries, social media updates, and conference materials.
12. Develop your research profile and skills, contributing to a culture of reflective, neuro‑affirming, and participatory research practice.
13. Undertake administrative tasks associated with the project, including budget monitoring, ethics submissions, and meeting coordination.
14. Engage in continuing professional development relevant to mixed‑methods research, participatory approaches, and neurodevelopmental science.
15. Carry out any other reasonable duties as requested by the Principal Investigator or Head of School.
16. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s “World Changing Glasgow 2025” strategy.
17. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow/School/Research Group, including contributing to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed publications, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of estee.
18. Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

A1 SCQF Level 10 (Honours degree) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Public Health, or another relevant discipline.

A2 Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of research methodologies, particularly qualitative interviewing and mixed‑methods data collection.

A3 A comprehensive and up‑to‑date knowledge of the wider subject area or subject specialism.

A4 Understanding of child and adolescent mental health and neurodevelopmental services.

Desirable

B1 A Master’s degree (or near completion) in Psychology, Health Services Research, or a related discipline.

B2 An interest in concepts including neurodiversity, neurodivergence and neuro‑affirming approaches.

Skills

Essential

C1 Knowledge of research methods and data management in applied health or psychological research.

C2 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work sensitively with young people and families in distress.

C3 Ability to manage workload independently, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.

C4 Competence in IT systems (MS Office, Qualtrics, NVivo, SPSS/Excel).

C5 Understanding of ethical research governance and data protection (GDPR).

C6 Ability to produce clear, concise written materials (reports, publications).

C7 Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner.

Experience

Essential

E1 Sufficient relevant research experience (or equivalent) appropriate to an early career researcher.

E2 Experience of collaborative working across multi‑disciplinary teams.

E3 Evidence of an emerging track record of high‑quality research publications in a relevant field.

E4 Experience of participant recruitment and qualitative interviewing.

Desirable

F1 Experience working within or alongside NHS services, especially CAMHS or neurodevelopmental teams.

F2 Familiarity with neurodivergence (e.g., autism, ADHD, ESSENCE).

F3 Experience supporting clinical research with children and young people.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Jason Lang via email [e-mail].

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,951 - £37,694 per annum pro rata.

This post is part‑time (24.5 hours per week), and open‑ended with funding available for up to 12 months in the first instance.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full‑time staff, pension – pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6‑month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University. Read more on how the promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)

The University of Glasgow is committed to safeguarding children and protected adults by ensuring that individuals in regulated roles are appropriately vetted and monitored.

The University of Glasgow’s PVG policy aligns with the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 and reflects the legal requirements effective from 1 April 2025, including the mandatory PVG Scheme membership for regulated roles.

The post for which you are applying is considered to be a regulated role under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. Under the Act, individuals working in a regulated role must be a PVG Scheme member before employment. If you are successful in your application, the offer of employment will be conditional subject to a satisfactory PVG Scheme record check. We will be in touch regarding requirements related to this.

Further information is available at: https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme

Disclosure Scotland The post for which you are applying is considered to be a child care position in terms of The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003. It requires the successful applicant to undergo a satisfactory Disclosure check through Disclosure Scotland prior to appointment. This check is necessary to ensure that the University of Glasgow fulfils its legal duties under the Act. If you are successful in your application, the offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure Report. The University will make a Disclosure application to Disclosure Scotland, which will reveal any past criminal convictions (spent or unspent) or inclusion on the Disqualified from Working with Children List. Any non‑conviction information held locally by the police may also be disclosed should this be considered relevant to the position.

Please note it is a criminal offence to apply for a child care position if you are on the Disqualified from Working with Children List.

Closing Date: 9 January 2026 at 23:45