Research Associate - School of Psychological Science

This position is a 12-month, 0.5 FTE role to conduct research in the area of positive psychology and student well-being.

The RA will be responsible for working on a research project evaluating the effect of a psychoeducational University course, the Science of Happiness, on undergraduate student mental well-being. This post is funded by a grant from the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute and Rosetrees Trust to Prof Bruce Hood and Dr Sarah Jelbert.

The Science of Happiness is an open unit course for 1st year undergraduates at the University of Bristol. Based on over 30 years of positive psychology research, the course both educates and encourages the uptake of behavioural interventions that have been shown to improve mood. An evaluation of the 2019/20 course revealed a significant rise in measures of subjective mental well-being in students who took the unit in the first term, compared to a waiting list control group. However, as a result of Covid-19, the course in 2020/21 will be delivered entirely online. The current research project will determine whether the planned online course is similarly beneficial to students' mental well-being. The postholder's role will involve planning, organising and conducting this research, including collecting data from students taking the course throughout the 2020/21 academic year. There will also be the opportunity to contribute to other related projects within the research group.

For informal enquires, please contact Dr Sarah Jelbert on sarah.jelbert@bristol.ac.uk

We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBT+ and BAME communities, to join us.