About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Starting Well: Children and Young People's Mental Health Theme, part of the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey, and Sussex (ARC KSS), based at the University of Sussex. The theme conducts research on early detection and intervention of mental health challenges in children and young people. We are looking for a research assistant who may be dedicated to the CATALYST project, and two projects funded by the ARC KSS (CATALYST and Supporting Synchrony).
The CATALYST project involves co-designing and testing a new model of youth mental health support using asset-based and task-sharing approaches. The model has been co-designed with young people and professional stakeholders and will be implemented in voluntary and community sector organisations during a pilot period throughout 2025. This is a collaborative project, working with academics and clinical professionals from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and Kings College London. The role will involve engaging with voluntary and community sector organisations, including service leaders and volunteers working with young people in the community. You will be responsible for:
1. Coordinating and facilitating public engagement activities,
2. Data collection activities in the community, including collecting pre- and post-standardised measures with young people or supporting volunteers to collect data with the young people they support,
3. Collecting qualitative data from research participants, including young people, the volunteers, and service leaders, through one-to-one interviews, focus groups, and/or workshops,
4. Analysing quantitative and qualitative data, and
5. Helping to write up the results for lay reports and for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
The second project is the Supporting Synchrony project, which aims to adapt video-feedback interventions for parents/carers and autistic children. Working closely with the Association for Video Interaction Guidance (AVIGuk), you will coordinate the data collection activities, including:
1. Supporting practitioners to collect pre- and post-intervention data, and obtaining video data collected as a part of the intervention,
2. Arranging appropriate storage and transfer of video data in line with data protection policies,
3. Conducting interviews with practitioners,
4. Supporting the observational coding of video data,
5. Analysing qualitative and quantitative data, and
6. Helping to write up the results for lay reports and for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
You will also coordinate two advisory groups made up of:
1. Video Interaction Guidance practitioners, and
2. Members of the public including autistic parents/carers and young people.
About you
You will be highly adept at engaging and communicating with members of the public to support their ongoing endorsement in the projects, collect a range of qualitative and quantitative data, and to present early research findings. You will have experience using a range of research methods and will be capable of analysing quantitative data using R Studio and qualitative data using NVivo. You will be a quick learner with an eagerness to develop research skills and will be highly organised and motivated. You will have the skills to manage your own workload, contribute to interpretation of research findings, and communicate clearly with the team, line management, and stakeholders.
At least a 2.1 degree in Psychology or related discipline is essential, with experience working in psychology research and an interest in autism and children and young people's mental health, place-based implementation, and early intervention.
About our School
Our Psychology school has a rich history extending over half-a-century, marked from the start by our variety of research and courses. From the ground-breaking work of scholars such as Stuart Sutherland and Marie Jahoda, we've grown to cover all areas of psychology.
The School was formally established in 2009, bringing together academics across biological, cognitive, developmental, clinical and social psychology into one School. We've now entered the second decade of our existence as one of the largest and most influential academic communities for psychology in the country!
Anchored by our core values of kindness, integrity, inclusion, collaboration and courage, our research and teaching address societal challenges to create a better world.
Please find further information regarding the School of Psychology.
The School of Psychology is proud to hold a Silver Athena Swan Award.
Why work here
Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.
Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it's our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.
Find out more about our reward and benefits package.
Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion.
Further Key Information
Please contact Dr Devyn Glass (Devyn.Glass@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.
For full details and how to apply see our vacancies page.
The University is committed to equality and valuing diversity, and applications are particularly welcomed from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) at Sussex.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role may be eligible for sponsorship. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship.
Please note that this position may be subject to ATAS clearance if you require visa sponsorship.
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