Research Associate

We seek to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated scientist with proven intellectual and technical abilities to be part of an international research project that investigates curiosity-based learning and metacognition in older children and adolescents. The project is funded by an international Open Research Area (ORA) grant across Cardiff University, UK (PI: Dr Matthias Gruber), University of Trier, Germany (PI: Prof Yana Fandakova) and INRIA Bordeaux, France (PIs: Pierre-Yves Oudeyer and Helene Sauzeon).

We are seeking to appoint a Research Associate for 20 months, to work at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, and to conduct an fMRI study on curiosity-based learning and question-asking behaviour in late childhood and early adolescence (10-14 years old).

The postholder will have prior experience with ideally fMRI research or more generally neuroimaging and advanced statistical analyses.
For informal enquiries, please contact Matthias Gruber (GruberM@cardiff.ac.uk ).

This role may occasionally require evening and weekend work, for which you will receive time off during the week as compensation.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) fixed term for 20 months and is available from 1 May 2025 and is based at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) as part of the School of Psychology, Cardiff University.

The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific project requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.

Salary: £40,497 - £45,413 per annum (Grade 6)  

Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl. bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It's an exciting and vibrant place to work with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter. Project needs will require some degree of office-based working but the balance of time can be spent in the office or remotely (subject to agreement with the line manager).

Closing date: Thursday, 1 May 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangement.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.