Research Assistant (Cognitive Flexibility in Adolescent)

The Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC) invites applications for the position of Research Assistant.

The Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC), funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF)  in Singapore and coordinated through the Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES) , is a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the University of Cambridge. CLIC is a flagship programme in the Science of Learning to harness advancements in neuroscience to develop cognitive training programmes for the improvement of lifelong flexible learning, focusing initially on adolescents and young adults, but also envisaging work with infants and older adults. This is a strategic global initiative for the Universities of Cambridge and NTU that brings together multidisciplinary expertise from over 30 investigators in the areas of Neuroscience, Psychology, Linguistics and Education across the two universities. 

Nanyang Technological University is a research intensive university currently ranked 13th globally and placed 1st amongst the world’s best young universities. The University has Colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and an Interdisciplinary Graduate School. Further, the new Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine benefits from a dual campus located at Novena, in close proximity to the Singapore city centre. The Cognitive Neuroimaging Centre (CoNiC) houses state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities including a newly installed 3T MRI scanner and MEG, as well as new EEG, NIRS, TMS and tDCS equipment.

The first phase of the CLIC program will initially be housed at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. As the programme progresses, other sites will be developed to meet the needs of the experimental programme. The new CLIC research centre will provide a vibrant, fast-paced, international and interdisciplinary environment with excellent opportunities for skills development and knowledge exchange between partner Principal Investigator labs in Singapore and Cambridge.   

The Principal Investigators involved in the first phase of the research programme include:

From Cambridge: Director Professor Zoe Kourtzi (Psychology), Senior Scientific Advisor Professor Trevor Robbins (Psychology), Senior Scientific Advisor Professor Barbara Sahakian (Psychiatry), Deputy Director Professor Henriette Hendriks (Linguistics), Professor Michelle Ellefson (Education) and Imaging Lead – Professor John Suckling (Psychiatry).

From NTU:  Director Professor Annabel Chen (Psychology), Deputy Director Assoc Prof Victoria Leong (Psychology), Imaging Lead – Professor Balázs Gulyas (LKCMedicine), and Principal Investigators Professor David Hung (NIE), Assoc Prof Georgios Christopoulos (Nanyang Business School); supported by co-Investigator Dr Teo Chew Lee (NIE).

The CLIC program is seeking one full-time Research Assistant (with potential opportunities for reappointment). The RA will support research activities focusing on social and societal factors that influence cognitive flexibility and learning among adults and adolescents. Given the highly inter-disciplinary nature of the project, the RA may also be exposed to opportunities for involvement in research activities related to human neuroimaging, language, infant cognition/learning and pedagogy. Adolescent Study: In the first phase of the Adolescent Component of the Study, the two-year project involves mapping the construct of cognitive flexibility among adolescents in Singapore schools. The work will involve both a systematic evaluation of the cognitive constructs through standardized measures as well as classroom observations and interviews examining cognitive flexibility constructs in ecologically valid classroom conditions.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Conducting literature review
• Conducting interviews
• Liaising with school personnel
• Survey construction, evaluation, and administration
• Assist in quantitative and qualitative processing and analysis
• Project and data management, maintain research records
• Collect primary data, responsible for data coding and entry
• Report preparation
• Assisting in the analysis of findings
• Other research related tasks as assigned by the Principal Investigator

Essential requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology with a background in cognition, emotion, or related field.
• Experience in conducting, collecting data for and analysing surveys, psychological testing (computerised), behavioural testing and cognitive experiments
• Experience in conducting literature reviews and writing academic reports
• Experience with statistical analysis using SPSS and/or R language
• Good ICT skills
• Good communication skills and other interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills and able to work effectively within deadlines
• Experience preparing reports, protocols, presentations and manuscripts with guidance
• Interest in research at the intersection of neuroscience, social science, education, and cognition

Preferred requirements:

• A desire to publish and to pursue a research career in a psychology related field
• A basic background in cognitive neuroscience
• Training in experimental, cognitive and developmental psychology
• Experience working in a school/education setting
• Background in Bayesian Statistics and/or factor analytics methods

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Hiring Institution: NTU

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