Research Associate - Human-AI Collaboration in Education

About the Role

The National Institute of Education is seeking a qualified Research Associate for a 12-month contract based in the Office for Research. This role supports the project "Optimising Learning in Human-AI Collaboration (HAC) for Intelligence Augmentation (IA)," which explores human-centered AI partnerships aimed at enhancing human intelligence and learning.

Project Overview

This initiative integrates interdisciplinary insights from learning sciences, AI in education, and learning analytics to advance students' learning outcomes, critical thinking skills, and engagement levels in human-AI collaborative settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Refine AI prompts specifically tailored for educational purposes.
• Implement and customize AI-integrated functions within digital learning platforms to support diverse teaching and learning scenarios.
• Develop and administer valid survey instruments to assess university students’ literacy and experiences with human-AI collaboration, including its effects on cognitive engagement over short and long terms.
• Collect, process, and analyze data from functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalography (EEG), and eye-tracking technologies.
• Prepare detailed research reports and contribute to academic publications.
• Undertake additional tasks as directed by the Principal Investigator.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in educational technology, learning sciences, computer science, or a closely related discipline.
• Familiarity with prompt engineering and pedagogical strategies to adapt AI prompts for instructional use.
• Hands-on experience with deploying AI-enabled features in learning management systems.
• Competency in research design, including constructing validated survey questionnaires and educational experiments.
• Proven ability to handle neuroimaging and eye-tracking equipment, develop robust data collection protocols, and convert raw signals into meaningful metrics such as inter-brain synchrony, fixation durations, and saccades.
• Proficiency in relevant programming languages and analytical software.
• Experience in composing detailed research documentation and scholarly papers.
• Detail-oriented, self-driven, and capable of working collaboratively across multiple disciplines.
• Strong command of written and spoken English.
• Effective collaboration skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Additional Information

The application process includes submission through Workday. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The closing date for applications is 14 calendar days post-advertisement.