Call for Applications

Post/s of Part-Time Research Support Assistant

Project “Raising student achievement and lifelong learning

through enhanced reading comprehension skills”

REACH HIGH SCHOLARS PROGRAMME

Department of Psychology
Faculty for the Social Wellbeing

1. Applications are invited for a Research Support Assistant to work on a post-doctoral research study
entitled “Raising student achievement and lifelong learning through enhanced reading comprehension
skills”, financed by the REACH HIGH Scholars Programme. The project grant is part-financed by the
European Union, Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Investing in human
capital to create more opportunities and promote the wellbeing of society – European Social
Fund (ESF). The Research Support Assistant will be working on the pilot study of this project.

2. Applicants will preferably be in possession of a first degree in Education or Psychology. Due to the
nature of the study, applicants need to be proficient in Maltese and English.

The University of Malta is an Equal Opportunity employer.

3. The part-time post is for an approximate amount of 50 hours and carries a remuneration of €8 per
hour. Petrol expenses incurred in relation to this work will be reimbursed in line with University policy.

4. Candidates should submit their letter of application, a copy of their curriculum vitae, a police conduct
certificate and copies of their certificates. Applications must be sent by e-mail to
projects.hrmd@um.edu.mt and should be received by not later than noon of Friday, 7th October
2016.

Late applications will not be considered.

5. Further information may be obtained from the website: http://www.um.edu.mt/hrmd/vacancies.

Office of the University,

Msida, 23rd September 2016
Call for Applications
Post/s of Part-Time Research Support Assistant
REACH HIGH Scholars Programme
“Raising student achievement and lifelong learning through enhanced reading comprehension skills”

Department of Psychology
Faculty for the Social Wellbeing

Further Information

1. The Research Support Assistant will be responsible for the execution of a number of tasks related to
a post-doctoral research study entitled “Raising student achievement and lifelong learning through
enhanced reading comprehension skills” and financed by the REACH HIGH Scholars Programme.
The project grant is part-financed by the European Union, Operational Programme II – Cohesion
Policy 2014-2020 Investing in human capital to create more opportunities and promote the
wellbeing of society – European Social Fund (ESF).

The goal of this project is to evaluate reading comprehension and create a suitable and refined
reading comprehension instrument within the Maltese context for children aged between 7 and 14
(Year 3 – Form 3). More specifically the objectives are: i) to design and construct reading
comprehension measures in both Maltese and English that are unique to the language/cultural
background of Malta, and ii) to identify and provide evidence for the cognitive and language skills that
are predictive of reading comprehension.

The Research Support Assistant will be working on the pilot study of this project. Should the applicant
be interested, there is the possibility of applying later on for a similar post helping to carry out the
main study of this post-doctoral project, envisaged to start in February 2017.

2. The main duties and responsibilities of the appointee, amounting to approximately 50 hours of work,
will consist of carrying out Research Assistant duties including:

a. attending a number of training sessions in order to get familiar with the project and measures that
will be used;
b. collecting data: this includes reading comprehension measures, as well as tasks that measure
cognitive and language skills in relation to reading comprehension. Data collection will be carried
out both individually and as a group;
c. liaising with the researcher to make sure the project is running smoothly;
d. performing any other project related task as instructed by the researcher.

3. The appointee is expected to work at such places and during such hours as may be determined by the
University authorities.

4. The selection procedure will involve:

a. scrutiny of qualifications and experience claimed and supported by testimonials and/or certificates
(copies to be included with the application); and
b. an interview and / or extended interview.

5. The post is for an amount of approximately 50 hours, which will be subject to a probationary period
and to the provisions of the Statutes, Regulations and Bye-Laws of the University of Malta which are
now or which may hereafter be in force.

Office of the University,

Msida, 23rd September 2016