Human Testing Technician

Grade UE05: £13.31 – 15.30 per hour, depending on experience

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science / School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Guaranteed Hours (approx. 9 hours per week over the 6 month contract period)

Fixed-term: 6 months (approx. March 2023 – August 2023)

The Linguistics Department of the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences is seeking to appoint a Human Testing Technician on a Part-Time, Guaranteed Hours contract, for a fixed term period of 6 months, approximately from March 2023 until August 2023.

The Opportunity:

The Human Testing Technician will work with Prof. Jennifer Culbertson and Dr. Shira Tal on the ERC-funded project Syntax Shaped by Cognition: transforming theories of syntax using laboratory experiments. This project uses experimental techniques, like artificial language learning, to investigate what kinds of linguistic patterns adults and children find easy (or hard) to learn. We are interested in whether the types of patterns learners are best at learning are also more common across the world’s languages.

The Human Testing Technician will be responsible for important research-related activities, including assisting with the preparation of materials and the setup and execution of experiments with participants (including liaising with participant families). This is an excellent opportunity to gain in-depth research experience in developmental research and to learn more advanced experimental techniques.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• Vocational qualifications (N/SVQ 3, ONC or equivalent) and proven relevant work experience in a relevant role.
• Demonstrable experience of preparation and setting up of experimental materials.
• Proven experience of data collection from participants.
• Up to date practical knowledge of research and practice in Developmental Linguistics/Psychology.
• Accurate data entry into lab books and databases for the recording and managing of project data.
• The ability to independently plan, prioritise and organise daily work and allocation of time, within the timescales for the project.

Click here for a copy of the full job description.

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success. You will benefit from a competitive reward package and a wide range of staff benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme , staff discounts, family friendly initiatives , flexible working and much more. Access our staff benefits page for further information and use our reward calculator to find out the total value of pay and benefits provided.

PPLS welcomes applications from candidates belonging to groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the department, including, but not limited to, women and ethnic minorities.

Interviews are expected to take place in March 2023, and we intend to provide candidates at least with 1,5 weeks’ notice of the interview date.

Application information:

We ask you to include a current CV and cover letter with names of three referees who may be contacted at a later date (please note if you do not wish for anyone to be contacted until after an offer has been made).

We invite candidates to use their cover letter to highlight professional and personal experiences that maybe relevant to role. PPLS interview panels will take submitted documents into account when assessing applications in line with listed criteria, including acknowledging areas of potential impact such as caring responsibilities, family leave and health related matters.

More information on how to submit your application can be found here .

If invited for interview you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

Candidates must have existing right to work in the UK as the role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.