Core Facilities Technician (Teaching and Research)

We are seeking applications from highly motivated candidates to undertake the role of Core Facilities Technician (Teaching and Research) for the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Working across campus (including the Priory Road Complex and Biomedical Sciences Building) you will provide technical support, training and specialist advice for staff and students in the school of Psychological Sciences and Neuroscience pertaining to the use of specialist software, experimental equipment and laboratory-based safety. You will also be expected to maintain and organise the equipment and software.

You will deliver software and hardware -related workshops supporting Psychology UG and PGT students, as well as hosting in-person drop-in sessions in support of student learning in these areas. This is in addition to day-to-day support provided to staff and students with troubleshooting technical issues related to their ongoing research projects and activities.

You will also ensure the smooth and effective day to day support of the teaching and research in compliance with relevant Health & Safety and other regulatory (e.g. Home Office) policy requirements. This includes providing training and guidance to staff, post-graduate and undergraduate students in specialised techniques, software and Psychology-related hardware in addition to supporting essential core functions of research and teaching such as production and supply of specialised media for Drosophila propagation or coordination of green lab accreditation in research laboratory spaces.

You will:

Hold delegated responsibility for elements of Health and Safety such as reviewing student and staff research risk assessments as well as production of up-to-date Standard Operating Procedures under the direction of the Technical Manager to ensure compliance with relevant health and safety requirements.

Support the efficient and safe running of the Psychology and Neuroscience research laboratories across the Priory Road complex and Biomedical Sciences Building, including Health and Safety and compliance with the relevant regulatory policies and procedures.

Assist in the development, programming and use of specialised equipment, software or processes in research and teaching. For example, EEG/ERP, Virtual Reality, motion capture, eye tracking, biopacs, observation and recording equipment, human-technology interaction, JASP, Qualtrics.

Support and/or deliver in-person small and large group workshops, 1-1 troubleshooting drop-ins or induction talks for UG, PGT and PGR students.

Support online or in-person Widening Participation, community engagement, and research events.

Undertake or co-ordinate maintaining, upgrading, optimising and integrating of laboratory equipment.

Support academic staff in the testing of participants as part of ongoing research or teaching within the School.

Support the development of systems and maintain records of laboratory and equipment bookings, and equipment maintenance.

Support staff and student IT/ AV queries as required, liaising with relevant stakeholders (e.g. IT Services).

Hold responsibility for staff and student induction into specialised spaces (e.g. research kitchen or phlebotomy spaces)

Undertake any other tasks that may reasonably be requested by the relevant Technical Manager/s or School Head of Operations.

You have:

Relevant technical skills or work experience in Psychology and Neuroscience, or a related discipline utilising relevant skills.

A demonstrable understanding of Psychology teaching and research laboratory environments.

An understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research methods in psychology and associated data analysis software and techniques.

Experience with Gorilla or Qualtrics, JASP, R, SPSS and with setting up eye tracking VR headsets/environments or Bio-measure systems.

A proven ability to structure and deliver curriculum support sessions on technical issues, in both 1-1 and group settings.

Knowledge of British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines, standards and governance of course accreditation and procedures for human research.

Experience in providing technical support to undergraduate and/or postgraduate students.

Knowledge of current health and safety regulations and safe working practices in Psychology and/or neuroscience disciplines.

Please familiarise yourself with the redeployment process guidance before submitting an application, particularly around contract types (e.g. Fixed-term appointments)

For informal queries please contact: Dr Natalie Griffiths-Stubbs, Technical Manager via email: [email protected]

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