Department

Education

Salary

£32,080 per year, reduced pro rata

Grade

Grade 5

Contract status

Fixed term

Hours of work

Part-time

Based at

University of York campus (with some remote working options available)

Interview date

To be confirmed

Posted Date

23/09/2026

Apply by

07/10/2026

Job Reference

15344

Documents

Job Description 15344.pdf (PDF, 391.95kb)

Role Description

Department

We are seeking to appoint a Research Trainee to contribute to an Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) funded evaluation of adventure learning programmes in secondary schools. The evaluation focuses on the Adventure and Challenge programme and Inspire to Achieve. We're running two randomised control trials to determine whether participation in either programme improves pupils social, emotional, and academic outcomes. We are also interested in how pupils experience the programmes and the factors that influence their implementation.

The post-holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team spanning the Department of Education, Department of Psychology, and the York Trials Unit, University of York.

Role

As a research trainee you will provide support to the research project, undertaking research work within the overall programme and assisting with the day to day operation of the project.

You will work under the supervision of the project's research associate and will:

undertake appropriate organisational and administrative activities connected to the research project.
contribute to research data collection and management, including questionnaires, focus groups and interviews.
undertake the compilation of questionnaire data and the transcription of focus groups and interviews.
attend and contribute to relevant meetings.

Skills, Experience & Qualification Needed

Applications will be shortlisted on the following criteria:

An undergraduate degree in Psychology or closely related discipline
Knowledge of randomised control trials
Knowledge and experience of a range of research techniques and methodologies (e.g., interviews, focus groups, questionnaires) including the ability to clean and manage research data
Excellent attention to detail
Experience of research project administration/co-ordination
Experience of working in or with schools
Excellent IT skills including the ability to maximise social media as appropriate (i.e., Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Google Workspace)

Interview date: to be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr Naomi Holmes on [HIDDEN TEXT]

Condition of employment

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form.

Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum (essential) criteria for each position will be offered an interview. Read more about the University of York's commitments under the Disability Confident scheme.