The School of Psychology are looking for outgoing, friendly students to help promote an exciting research study on campus. Your job will be to spread the word through social media, hand out flyers, and actively approach students around campus to invite them to take part in our study. You’ll be chatting to people in social spaces, lecture entrances, libraries — anywhere students hang out.

If you’re confident, approachable, and happy to engage people face-to-face, we’d love to hear from you!

Main duties and responsibilities:

Your duties will include:

• Actively approaching students in person around campus to invite them to take part in our study. This includes chatting to students in social areas, libraries, cafés, lecture theatres, and outdoor spaces.
• Attend freshers’ events to promote the study.
• Confidently explaining the purpose of the study and how students can get involved, answering any basic questions they might have.
• Distributing flyers and promotional materials in key locations around campus, including common rooms, cafés, and events.
• Creating and sharing engaging social media content to promote the study through your own networks and university groups (platforms might include Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter).
• Thinking creatively about new ways to engage students — suggesting locations, events, or promotional ideas that could help boost participation.
• Keeping a simple record of your activity (for example, noting how many people you’ve spoken to or flyers distributed).
• Working independently and managing your time effectively, making sure you cover key areas on campus and meet agreed targets or deadlines.
• Representing the research team positively and professionally, acting as a friendly, approachable contact for students on campus.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification:

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• Outgoing, friendly, and confident approaching people in person (application & interview)
• Good verbal communication skills (application & interview)
• Comfortable using social media platforms (application & interview)
• Reliable and well-organised (application & interview)
• Able to work flexibly around campus and university events and commit to 4 hours per week for at least four weeks (application & interview)
• Enthusiastic about promoting research and engaging fellow students (application & interview)
• Knowledge of key student spaces, societies and events on campus (application & interview)
• Creative ideas for promoting the study in fun, attention-grabbing ways (application & interview)
• Willingness to work outside and able to move easily around campus (application & interview)
• Must be available throughout welcome week (Monday 22^nd – 27^th September 2025). In person training and orientation will be on Monday 22^nd (please confirm on application)

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience in promotion, events, or peer-to-peer roles (application)
•  Interest in research, health, or student wellbeing (application)

Further Information 

Salary: £12.64 per hour plus £1.53 per hour holiday pay.

Work arrangement: Part-time and in-person

Duration: 22.9.25 to 13.10.25 (with possibility of extending to 3.11.25)

Line manager: Research Associate, Psychology department 

Our website: https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/yhmresearch-com/home

For informal enquiries about this job contact
Dr Jayne Pickering, Research Associate, on jayne.pickering@sheffield.ac.uk 

Next steps in the recruitment process:

It is anticipated that the interview-selection process will take place on Friday 4^th September and selected candidates will be invited to an online interview between Monday and Wednesday of the following week (8^th – 10^th September). We will inform successful candidates by Thursday 11^th September. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [email protected]

Our vision and strategic plan:

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer:

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes
• A range of generous family-friendly policies

• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

• support for those going through the menopause

• paid time off and support for fertility treatment

• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.