Research Assistant
Research assistant posts during university give students valuable experience. You can be expected to apply the knowledge you are currently learning to projects run by lecturers. By working as a research assistant, you can expect to:
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Perform experiments and analyse the results
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Present new knowledge orally or in written outputs and at conferences
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Literature searches
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Providing general research support to academics
Skills that are required and developed during these roles include:
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Communication
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Attention to detail
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Critical thinking
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Technical skills
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Statistical and Graphical Analysis of Data
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Planning and scheduling
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Interviewing
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Data Collection
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This toolkit is an example of research assistant work. The students who worked on this project were able to present the research at the BPS Conference in May 2017.
These posts can be paid or voluntary. Paid roles are usually advertised on MyCareerHub (usually over the summer) and voluntary roles usually through emails by lecturers (throughout the year) from the Student Research Assistantship Scheme.
This can also be a great experience for when you come to complete your dissertation, bringing the skills and knowledge to help make it easier to perform.