Psychology Lab Technician - Dubai Campus

About the Role
The company is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Psychology Lab Technician. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the daily operations of the research laboratory, which includes providing support, training, and supervision to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the use of research equipment, techniques, and relevant experimental and statistical software. The postholder will be expected to foster strong links with colleagues at the company’s campuses in Edinburgh and Malaysia, supporting the academic team to provide high-quality learning, teaching, and research while contributing to the enhancement of psychology provisions across the institution. Collaboration with colleagues across campuses will support the sharing of technical knowledge and good practice in teaching and research. The position is based at the company’s campus in Dubai; all programmes are delivered in English, and fluency in English is essential. New staff will participate in a comprehensive induction programme covering the company’s standards, values, and the practical elements of their role.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Support teaching and assessment on academic programmes by assisting colleagues in Psychology with laboratory practical classes, workshops, and other activities that facilitate the delivery of the company’s psychology programmes.
• Plan, prepare, and set up laboratory sessions for research methods, data analysis, and other practical classes, providing technical assistance during classes and tutorials.
• Provide technical training, instruction, and guidance to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the use of research equipment, research techniques, and relevant experimental and statistical software, providing effective, well-documented, and timely support.
• Maintain laboratory instruments and support the smooth day-to-day operation of the Psychology laboratory.
• Assist undergraduate and postgraduate students with the technical aspects of dissertation projects and support academic staff with ongoing research activities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in Dubai, at other campuses, and with external networks to exchange information, share learning, and build relationships for future collaboration.
• Oversee the safe operation of laboratory activities by liaising with Campus Services and ensuring compliance with company safety policies and statutory regulations.
• Manage and maintain databases associated with Psychology laboratory access and student research participation, including recording and collating credits gained by students through research participation and providing relevant credit records to course teaching teams.
• Administer the laboratory booking system and maintain an inventory of equipment and supplies.
• Undertake continuous professional development (CPD) and participate in staff development activities, including training to enhance technical skills.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post and its general responsibilities. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Person Specification

Essential

• A broad understanding and background in Psychology
• An undergraduate honours degree in Psychology
• Competence using SPSS/JAMOVI or equivalent analytical software packages
• Competence using NVivo or willingness to learn
• Fluent (verbal and written) in English
• Good communication, interpersonal, and technical writing skills
• Ability to work independently and be proactive and resourceful
• Ability to apply technical and research knowledge to support student learning and laboratory-based teaching activities
• Commitment to continuous professional development, including enhancement of skills.

Desirable

• A postgraduate degree in Psychology or closely related discipline
• Experience in survey and experimental software platforms (e.g., PsychoPy, SurveyLab, Testable, or equivalent)
• Some programming skills (e.g., R -statistics, Python, Matlab, C, Java), preferably with experience in implementing psychological experiments
• Experience of working in laboratory and/or educational environments
• Experience in supporting the learning of others
• Flexible and innovative with the ability to adapt to continually changing situations

Contract Details

• Location: Dubai Campus
• FTE and working pattern: 1 FTE (full-time - 35 hours per week) open-ended.

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labor and Immigration formalities, and the start date will need to be delayed if the employment visa is not in place.

Company Values
The company has a history dating back to 1821 and has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant, leading-edge research. The company is known for the quality of its degrees, with employers actively seeking out its graduates. The company is Scotland’s international university with a strong international presence, delivering degree programmes to approximately 30,000 students in 143 countries.

The company values:

• Belong
• Collaborate
• Inspire
• Celebrate

These values shape the community and culture of the company and are at the heart of its approach to nurturing innovation, leadership, and continuous improvement.