Graduate Research Assistant
This Economic and Social Research funded full-time post is available from 1/10/2026 till 16/10/2027 to cover a maternity.
The starting salary will be from £33,951 on Grade E, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.
The Role
The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Associate to support the work of Dr Fraser Milton and Dr Ciro Civile. The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day running of a project characterising the behavioural and neural signatures of aphantasia - a phenomenon where people have an absence of visual imagery.
The post will include coordinating participant recruitment and having responsibility for data collection utilising a variety of approaches such as online data collection, in-person running of neuropsychological and behavioural tests, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
About You
The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.
Applicants will be educated to a BSc in Psychology and be able to demonstrate robust knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. An MSc (or close to completion) in research methods (or related areas) would also be desirable. Applicants will be able to work to agreed timelines and milestones, have excellent interpersonal skills to coordinate activities with the other team members and participants, an enthusiasm for open science, and for communicating the results of the project to the general public in an accessible manner.
Applicants will have prior experience in a related area that includes behavioural testing and quantitative data analysis. Experience of running transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) studies and neuropsychological test batteries, as well as a knowledge of R would be desirable.
Applicants will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills and will have experience with long testing sessions involving members from the community.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
Further information
Please contact insert Fraser Milton, [email protected] or Ciro Civile [email protected]
Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future
Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russel Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.
We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.
You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
What we can offer you:
- Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
- Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
- An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
- Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
- A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy;
- A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon/Cornwall.
How we can help
If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at
[email protected]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.
