Research Trainee in speech perception and cognitive listening.

Role Description

Department

The Department of Psychology at the University of York is seeking a Research Trainee (research assistant) from late June 2025 to contribute to an ESRC-funded project in the area of speech perception and cognitive listening. The position is to cover the last seven months of the project following the current trainee’s move to a new opportunity. The funding was awarded to Professor Sven Mattys and co-PIs Dr. Sarah Knight and Dr. Ronan McGarrigle. The aim of the project is to further our understanding of individual differences in “effortful listening”. It explores the interface between speech signal quality and cognitive functions in challenging listening conditions. Main themes for this project include energetic masking, attention control, working memory, spatial hearing, and effort. Data collection involves both behavioural methods (speech transcription tasks, auditory psychophysical tests) and physiological methods (pupillometric measures of listening effort). The programme of work combines large-scale online testing and targeted in-lab experiments. The project is carried out in Professor Sven Mattys’ labs at the University of York, in collaboration with Dr. Knight at Newcastle University and Dr. McGarrigle at the University of Leeds.

Role

The successful candidate will contribute to every stage of the project and support the day-to-day organisation of laboratory activities. They will assist in designing the experiments, creating, recording, and editing auditory and visual materials for all experiments, collecting data (in the lab and online), analysing and interpreting data, and disseminating results. The candidate will be fully integrated into a vibrant lab and expected to attend and contribute to lab meetings and public-engagement activities. 

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• Candidates should have (or be on track for) a first or upper 2-1 undergraduate degree or Master's degree in speech and hearing science, cognitive psychology, linguistics, or another relevant discipline. 

• A good command of experimental designs in cognitive science and proficiency with statistical analysis (preferably using R) are essential. 

• Experience in psychophysics (including programming psychophysical experiments), pupillometric analysis, creation/manipulation of speech stimuli using relevant software (e.g., Audacity, Praat), and/or knowledge of spatial hearing is desirable, as is experience with writing up scientific results.

• Experience with online testing is highly desirable, due to a substantial portion of data collection will be carried out online (via the Prolific and Gorilla platforms).

• A high standard of written, numerical and verbal communication skills with the ability to keep accurate records.

• The ability to plan and take responsibility for your own work whilst working as part of a team or independently.

• Good interpersonal skills, a commitment to professional development, and enthusiasm for psychological research. You should be dependable, reliable and self-motivated. You will need a positive attitude, adaptability and resilience.

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Professor Sven Mattys (sven.mattys@york.ac.uk).  General information about the department is available at http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/psych

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