Graduate Teaching Assistant School Of Education Communication And Society

For current University students ONLY

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we?ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it?s simply ?the right thing to do? but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

Queen Mary?s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. To support students to participate in this internship, we are able to provide some support towards travel and accommodation.

Have you ever wondered what a research career is like? Do you have questions about cancer diagnosis and how we can make things better for patients? We are looking for an undergraduate student to take part in an NIHR Undergraduate Internship summer 2025.

The internship will take place within the MODE Study (Non-cancer diagnoses and their potential for missed opportunities in symptomatic cancer diagnosis: a mixed methods study) team at Queen Mary University of London. The MODE study is using qualitative and quantitative methods to understand when non-cancer diagnoses (?interim diagnoses?) before a cancer diagnosis, represent missed opportunities to diagnose cancer.

The successful candidate will be involved in the planning, preparation and running of a stakeholder event which aims to identify targets for future interventions for reducing delays in cancer diagnosis. This could include: contributing to data analysis, working with patient and public representatives to create and test accessible summaries of the study findings, and supporting discussions at the event. 

You will be working closely with a team of researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience, as well as meeting with a range of experts at the event. Training and mentorship will be provided in the relevant skills required to complete these projects. This will be an excellent opportunity to gain research and science communication experience, build your professional network, and contribute to a significant area of research and public health. 

The internship position will last 8 weeks, and will be expected to take place between July and September 2025.

Learning objectives for the role

Research skills and insights:

• Qualitative data analysis
• Mixed-methods evidence synthesis
• Academic paper writing
• Incorporating patient and public perspectives into research 
• How research is translated into impact

Transferable skills:

• Communicating complex information to a broad audience, including researchers, clinicians and members of the public
• Gathering views and reaching consensus across a range of stakeholder groups

Main duties and responsibilities of the role

• To collaborate with project leads on planning, preparing and running an event to develop ideas for reducing missed opportunities in cancer diagnoses in primary care.
• To assist in data analysis and evidence synthesis.
• To contribute to the preparation of audio, video or written summaries of the research findings.

Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student with at least one year of study remaining.

Essential:

• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student with at least one year of study remaining.
• Interest in cancer diagnosis and/or primary care. 
• Enthusiasm for learning and willingness to take on new challenges
• Comfortable using common software tools, such as Microsoft Office
• Experience of managing a varied workload and meeting tight deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team

Desirable:

• Understanding of qualitative research and analysis
• Experience in report writing, writing for publication, or other science communication

The applicant will support an educational research project in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. The research involves analysing data collected from a dashboard including teacher feedback, student feedback and self-reflections.

The role includes conducting thematic analyses and working with quantitative data. The successful candidate will be supported in developing their qualitative and quantitative research skills through guidance towards self-directed learning resources and ad-hoc training to enhance their expertise. 

The Research Assistant will contribute to generating meaningful insights to inform educational practices, particularly in assessment and feedback.

Key responsibilities:

1. Clean, process and manage datasets from multiple excel sources for analysis.
2. Provide quantitative and qualitative research support.
3. Assist in conducting thematic analyses to identify themes from qualitative data.
4. Perform quantitative analysis of student grade performance.
5. Participate in discussions, communicating and presenting research at meetings.
6. Contribute to writing reports, presentations and academic publications.

A third-year undergraduate student or above in any subject area.

Desirable skills: 

1. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques 
2. Some understanding of thematic analysis and experience in working with large datasets. 

Required skills:

1. Basic knowledge of excel.
2. Ability to work independently and collaboratively remotely.
3. Ability to manage tasks and deliver results under tight deadlines.
4. Strong work ethic, commitment to data accuracy.
5. Ability to work with limited supervision.

Graduate Teaching Assistant roles for the MSc Developmental Psychology & Psychopathology programme 2024-25

We are inviting applications for teaching opportunities on the DEV-PP MSc programme this coming year.

We are looking to employ PhD students as graduate teaching assistants on many of the DEV-PP modules, as described below.

If you have any questions about the role or the modules, please contact Kitty Jones (catherine.2.jones@kcl.ac.uk)

• Developmental Psychopathology 1: Perinatal period and Infancy


• Teaching October-November 2024


• Introduction to Statistics


• Teaching October-November 2024


• Nature & Nurture 1: Approaches to Addressing Key Questions in Psychopathology


• Teaching November-December 2024


• Nature & Nurture 2:  Genomic Approaches in Psychopathology


• Teaching February-March 2025


• Psychological Approaches to Treatment


• Teaching February-March 2025


• Placement


• Main placement period February-April 2025


• Dissertation


• Main dissertation period April-August 2025

Key Responsibilities

• Delivery of agreed package of teaching activities to a high standard, under the direct supervision of a member of academic staff. These activities may include seminars, classes, tutorials, lab sessions, other small group work to develop student skills, demonstration for experiments/techniques in lab-based science and computing, and/or mentoring support for UG or PGT project work. Students will not normally be involved in lecturing, but in some cases may be asked to lead lectures if the topic falls within their specialist field.


• Participation in appropriate training – including mandatory courses/sessions (e.g. courses, induction sessions).


• Careful and proportionate preparation for teaching activities. In some instances, materials will be provided by departments/faculties.


• Maintenance of information and resources on KEATS and interaction with students via the VLE.


• Attendance at lectures where needed/requested to ensure consistency of module delivery.


• Routine administration and correspondence associated with teaching delivery.


• Liaison with senior colleagues regarding contributions to the module.

GTAs are not expected to:

• lead lectures, unless they have accepted to do so on a very occasional basis, in their specialist field


• provide pastoral support to students or act as a personal tutor


• be involved in Open Days or admissions activities


• provide students with references


• set assessments


• be available to students at all times


• carry out unremunerated additional work on an ad hoc basis.

{The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.}

Education / qualification and training

Excellent subject knowledge of Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology as appropriate to the specific teaching role – For example, as evidenced by excellent performance in a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree in a psychological science

Undertaking psychological research at King’s College London, either as a PhD student or as a postdoctoral researcher.

Skills required

Knowledge / skills

Effective interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, to support and liaise with staff and students

Ability to provide advice to students on study skills and assist with any learning problems

Experience

Experience of facilitating or leading group work, activities or discussion.

Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances.

Personal characteristics/other requirements

Ability to self-reflect on teaching design and delivery and act on feedback for future improvements.

A commitment to delivering high quality education as part of a team.

Diligent in preparing for teaching sessions and assessment activities; including undertaking preparatory reading, planning, and familiarization with assessment briefs and marking criteria.

Role specific requirements

Ability and willingness to engage in relevant departmental training and introductory pastoral support training.

Keep abreast of current literature in subject areas being taught.