Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology and the
UCL Centre for Behaviour Change
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Research Assistant
Grade:
Grade 6
Appointment is on an ‘As and When’ basis as any offering of duties
becomes available during the year – therefore no work can be
guaranteed.
Salary:
£14.32 per hour
Duration:
As required
Hours:
As required
Annual leave:
Paid as and when worked
Department:
Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology;
UCL Centre for Behaviour Change
Accountable to:
Professor Susan Michie, Director of Centre for Behaviour Change and
Health Psychology Research Group, UCL
Background
The Health Psychology Research Group (HPRG) applies evidence and theories from health
psychology to the design, delivery, uptake and impact of behaviour change interventions,
mainly related to health but increasingly in areas including environmental sustainability. The
Group investigates innovative methods for developing and evaluating interventions in three
health domains: professional practice (e.g., the implementation of evidence-based guidelines,
such as hand-hygiene amongst hospital staff), risk factors amongst the general population
(e.g., communicating about pandemic flu, reducing smoking and excessive alcohol use), and
managing illness (e.g. Type 2 diabetes).
The work of the HPRG led to the creation and launch of the UCL Centre for Behaviour Change
(CBC) in February 2014. The CBC, initiated by UCL’s Grand Challenges for Human Wellbeing
and supported by the Vice Provost’s Strategic Development Fund, promotes interdisciplinary
and cross-faculty collaboration and translation of research into practice and policy. The
purpose of the Centre is to increase the quality and quantity of academic activity in behaviour
change at UCL, improve communication and collaboration across disciplines and support UCL
in becoming a leading and world renowned centre for expertise in behaviour change.
Summary of post
We are looking for a Research Assistant to work across the HPRG and CBC, supporting
behaviour change research, training and teaching activities in HPRG and CBC working both
independently and collaboratively. The post will be based within the Department of Clinical,
Educational and Health Psychology, UCL. The post-holder will work under the supervision of
Professor Susan Michie, or other senior member of her team.
Person specification
Applicants should be an experienced researcher with an MSc in Health Psychology and
studying towards a further post-graduate qualification (e.g. PhD in health psychology). S/he
should have an understanding of behaviour change theory, contructs and techniques and be
fully trained in identifying behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in complex behaviour change
interventions. S/he should be able to demonstrate evidence of project management
administration skills, independent working, good writing skills and show self-direction and
good interpersonal skills.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
•
To support research projects running in the HPRG and CBC
•
To support teaching and training activities in the HPRG and CBC
•
To collect and manage qualitative and quantitative data
•
To contribute to project administration
•
To conduct literature reviews and synthesise evidence
•
To conduct descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis
•
To apply behaviour change theory and knowledge to all stages of the
research process
•
To work as part of the research team to develop research protocols, gain
ethics approvals, set up and manage effective study procedures
•
To liaise effectively with research collaborators and report on project
progress
•
To assist with the preparation of reports on methods and findings for
dissemination in high quality journal articles, and at national and
international conferences and workshops, and in newsletters and briefings.
•
To undertake such duties as may be agreed with the Director.
Note: This job description is not exhaustive; details may need to change in consultation with
the post holder and in line with the requirements of the post.
For further information please contact: Dr Caroline Wood (caroline.wood @ucl.ac.uk)
PERSON SPECIFICATION: RESEARCH ASSISTANT
The skills, abilities, experience and knowledge outlined below provide a summary of what is required
to carry out this job effectively. They also form the selection criteria on which the appointment
decision will be made.
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
-
A Master’s degree or higher in Health
Psychology
Experience
-
-
Designing or evaluating behaviour
change interventions
Peer reviewed publications in relevant
journals
Successful collaborative research
Coding behaviour change techniques
(BCTs) in complex behaviour change
interventions for a range of behaviours
Assessing connections between
different behaviour change theories
and constructs of behaviour change
theories
-
Successful independent research
Grant writing
Leading or supporting teaching of
novel concepts to individuals and
groups from a variety of backgrounds
-
Systematic literature reviewing
Knowledge of teaching and training
pedagogies
Knowledge and Skills
-
-
Knowledge of behaviour change theory,
similarities between different theories
and ability to describe behaviour
change constructs
Skills of statistical analysis
Evidence synthesis skills
Good organisational and project/people
management skills
Knowledge of complex behaviour
change interventions and techniques
-
targeting a range of behaviours
Advanced levels of conceptual and
analytic thinking
Research report and journal article
writing
Good communication and presentation
skills
Other requirements
-
Ability to work independently and as a
member of a team