Research Fellow

About Us

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) has an unswerving commitment to high quality, evidence-informed teacher education, and is on a mission to improve the quality of teacher and leader development across the system.

The NIoT aims to improve teacher professional development through rigorous, impactful, and cutting-edge school-led research. Our research team plays a key role in this mission, as we work with our programme-delivery teams to test approaches to delivery and respond to the needs and questions of our partner organisations in the wider education sector.

As a Research Fellow at NIoT, you will have the opportunity to work with a team of dedicated professionals working in the design and delivery of teacher training and development programmes, and on cutting-edge research that has the potential to shape the future of teacher education and professional development. If you are passionate about education research and are looking for an exciting new opportunity, we encourage you to apply.

About the Role

We are recruiting a Research Fellow to join our Psychological Research team, who will play a crucial role in a new and exciting project on Countering Online Conspiracies and Misinformation in Schools.

This project is a bold, nationally significant initiative designed to support educators in responding to one of the most complex and urgent challenges facing young people today. You will work alongside the Head of Psychological Research, as well as other colleagues from our Research and Best Practice team and Programmes team.

You will manage the research and evaluation aspects of this project, which will involve you designing and conducting studies, analysing quantitative and qualitative data, and producing high-quality written outputs for stakeholders. In doing this you will work closely with diverse internal and external stakeholders including schoolteachers and leaders, young people, academics, and policy makers.

We are looking to hire an innovative behavioural researcher who is eager to undertake cutting-edge work with genuine social impact, to engage in evidence-based dialogue with practitioners, and to grow their skills as an independent and innovative researcher.

Corporate Responsibilities

• To ensure that the responsibilities of the role are carried out in a way which reflects the mission and the values of the NIoT.
• To be aware of and observe all policies, procedures, working practices and regulations, and in particular to comply with policies relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Confidentiality, Data Protection and Financial Regulations, reporting any concerns to an appropriate person.
• To comply with all reasonable management requests.

Main Duties & Key Responsibilities

• Project-manage the research and evaluation elements of a large collaborative project involving a multidisciplinary team.
• Undertake syntheses of primary research literature and consult with sector experts.
• Design research studies and manage data collection in educational settings.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with the project team and our funders, with other NIoT teams and colleagues, and with external stakeholders and collaborators
• Manage Research Assistants.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses, including the preparation, cleaning and ethical management of datasets.
• Prepare high-quality written outputs for a range of audiences, such as reports, presentations, blogs and academic papers.
• Contribute to the academic environment at the NIoT, which may include some teaching and assessment at postgraduate level.

Essential Criteria

• A commitment to the aims of the National Institute of Teaching
• Doctoral degree in psychology or a closely related behavioural science
• An interest in the education sector and a belief in the value of teachers and school leaders
• Experience of designing and conducting psychological experiments, randomised controlled trials, and/or other quantitative research with human participants
• Excellent data management and analysis skills
• Professional commitment to achieving social impact through research
• Enjoy working collaboratively and flexibly, and approach problem-solving with curiosity
• Experience of managing research projects
• Experience of delivering on collaborative projects against tight timelines
• Commitment to upholding high ethical standards and best practices in research
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Excellent organisation skills and attention to detail

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrable research experience in any of the following topic areas: psychology of misinformation and disinformation; conspiracy thinking; social influence; belief formation and change
• Proven interest and/or prior experience in teaching, schools, and professional development
• Experience of using R programming language for data visualisation and analysis
• Prior record of publishing high-quality written outputs

Working at the National Institute of Teaching

Contract: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract until October 2029

Salary:  £38,626 per annum, plus benefits

Key Benefits:

• Highly competitive pay and pay progression opportunities.
• Flexible start and end working times.
• Flexible working opportunities, including significant scope for hybrid working.
• At least 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays) rising to 33 days after five years’ service (with an annual discretionary office shutdown between Christmas and New Year).
• Entry to the highly valued Local Government Pension Scheme
• Excellent opportunities to develop your skills and experience and to progress your career.
• A stimulating, supportive and rewarding working environment with a dedicated team of likeminded professionals.

Diversity and Inclusion

The National Institute of Teaching is committed to creating a diverse environment and ensuring that all qualified applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices and are open to job shares, secondments, part-time, and flexible working schedules.

We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities.

Notes:

-This document is an overview of the role.

-The responsibilities will include but will not be limited to those listed above and it is anticipated that the role will evolve over time and as such the duties may change.

-This document does not form part of the contract of employment.

-We regret that we are currently unable to sponsor visas.

-This post requires a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check and Occupational Health Check is required as a condition of employment.

How to Apply

Apply Here: Submit your application online

Closing Date: 03 August 2025 23:59 GMT

Contact Us: If you have any queries about this role, please email us at [email protected]