Job Description

About ARU:

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

ARU's research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK's Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK's leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

About the role:

We are seeking to recruit a high-calibre Research Assistant to work with the School of Psychology and Sport Science at our Cambridge campus. You will be expected to undertake basic research including conducting literature reviews, recruiting participants, running experimental studies, analysing data, preparing manuscripts, and providing research support to the Principal Investigator. The Research Assistant will work on a project funded by The Leverhulme Trust. The project seeks to investigate why gymnasts do not stop exercising when they start feeling pain. This so often reported yet poorly understood issue is thought to be at the root of overuse injuries in sport, an area of research that has gained interest only very recently. The project comprises 3 psychophysiological studies aimed at investigating pain perception in gymnasts and compare it with non-athletes. Two of these studies have been completed already. Additionally, an intervention strategy to improve gymnasts' recognition of their pain will be designed in the fourth and last year of the project with the aim to reduce the risk of serious injuries and their long-term consequences.



With a BSc in Psychology (or a related discipline), you'll be creative, motivated and have experience in relevant research methods. You will have excellent written and oral communication skills and be proficient in statistics.



Informal enquiries can be sent to Dr Flavia Cardini at flavia.cardini@aru.ac.uk.

Interviews are planned for Friday 9 January 2026.

Find out more about working with us and how we recruit.



We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.

We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.



We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.



In accordance with the UK Government's immigration points-based system, this post does not meet the characteristics of a skilled job including salary criteria to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.

Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.



We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.

Guidance Notes:

Please download the Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.

Job Category Teaching, Research & Scholarship
Vacancy Type Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Duration 12 months
Employment Type Part time
Salary From 31,236 p.a. pro rata 15,618
Salary To 36,636 p.a. pro rata 18,318
Location Cambridge
Faculty/Prof Service Faculty of Science & Engineering
Ref No 3789
Closing Date 31/12/2025