Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work as a Psychology Research Assistant (RA) at a top UK university? If so, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find out why it’s one of the most sought-after positions to work in for recent psychology graduates.
Why you can trust me
Hello! 👋My name is Reilly. I currently work as a Research Assistant (RA) at UCL assisting on the ReSET Project, a NIHR-backed school-based mental health intervention to improve the social-emotional skills of adolescents aged 12-14 in the UK. If you’re a recent psychology graduate, or are interested in a career in psychology research, keep reading to get an idea of what a typical day in the life of a Psychology RA looks like.
An Example Day in the Life of a Psychology Research Assistant in London (Office Edition)
⏰6:30AM-8:00AM: Getting Ready for the Day
Although not technically a part of the workday, I’m a firm believer that how you begin your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. I’ve carried with me some tried-and-true habits over the years that set me up for success. These include:
- No phone within the first hour of waking
- Drinking a big glass of water before I do anything else
- Making the first cup of tea/coffee a ritual –– slow down and savour it
- Doing a short grounding exercise before the day begins e.g., time to sit in silence and enjoy the quiet of the morning, a brief meditation, or doing any activity that shifts my nervous system into a restful state
If I do at least one of these things I always feel better equipped to tackle the day ahead!
⏰8:00AM-8:45AM: Cycle to Work
When I started this job, I made a pact with myself that I would finally start commuting to work on my bicycle. Whilst it was intimidating at first, the hardest part was starting. Since doing it regularly, I’ve found so many positive benefits. Not only do I get my exercise in for the day, I also feel more focused, my energy levels are better, and I get to avoid the hot and cramped Tube journey during rush hour (bonus!).
⏰9:00AM-9:15AM: Start Work
Once I’ve changed out of my cycling kit and into my normal work attire, it’s time to begin the workday. Usually, I’ll start by checking emails, catching up on any Teams messages, and looking at my calendar for the day. Once this is all done I can begin to create my daily task list. To avoid overwhelm and stay focused, I’ll choose the top 3 tasks that absolutely must be tackled that day, leaving the rest for any leftover time I may have or roll it over to the next day. This technique allows me to feel more accomplished, boosts motivation and prevents that feeling of a “never ending” to-do list that can lead to procrastination.
⏰9:15AM-9:55AM: Begin First Task
Part of my role as a Research Assistant for this project is leading dissemination of the work that we do –– helping to expand our reach –– and eventually communicate the study’s findings in a way that is accessible, reaching the right audiences, and maximising the impact of our research. This involves writing and scheduling social media posts across our channels, producing engaging, short-form video content to reach young people, and writing blog posts such as this one. On this particular day, my colleague Josh Wood and I created a visual graphic on Canva to accompany our posts about #OCDweek. Once we got approval, we drafted social media copy for each of our platforms and scheduled them to go out during peak times to maximise engagement.
⏰10:00AM: Team Meeting (hybrid)
Every week our team has at least one catch up meeting where we discuss what we’re working on and how we’ve progressed from last week. It’s also a nice opportunity to hear about everyone’s weekend and any exciting life updates. Recently one of our team members, Alex Lloyd, got a new puppy which we had the privilege of meeting via zoom🐶
⏰11:00AM-11:10AM: Coffee Break!
Realistically, no matter how productive you wish to be, it’s important to give your brain a short break every hour or so to protect your wellbeing and work more sustainably. Usually I’ll make a hot drink or grab a snack and have a little chit chat with colleagues. Topics often include what we’re having for lunch, what we thought of the latest Traitors episode, or complaining about the British weather. You know, the classics!
⏰11:10AM-12:00PM: Finish First Task
I like to break my day into chunks as it makes it feel more manageable. Doing an AM / PM split works with bigger tasks, or I will further break it down if tasks are smaller or it still feels too daunting. As I approach lunchtime, this becomes my motivation for finishing off what I’d like to be completed when I know I have another task to work on post-lunch.
⏰12:00PM-1:00PM: Lunch
Lunch break happens anytime during this period for (officially) 30 minutes. A walk is essential –– no matter the weather! It helps us break up the day and it’s a great opportunity to connect with colleagues. It’s also a safe space to vent about work (coding problems are a frequent subject). We feel very grateful to work in the Bloomsbury area which has a plethora of well-kempt gardens and squares where you’re guaranteed to find your daily dose of nature.
⏰1:00PM-2:00PM: Begin Second Task
In an hour I will be presenting a paper to our lab for discussion. I’ve created a powerpoint slide (see below) and prepared some notes to keep with me whilst I present. I want to be as prepared as possible, so I’ve gone through my slideshow a couple of times, practicing the presentation in my head, printed out some copies of the paper for people to read, and come up with a few discussion questions for the end.
⏰2:00PM-3:00PM: Lab Meeting
On average, our lab has at least one lab meeting per month where we often have a guest speaker or journal club presentation. I always enjoy these meetings, as I leave feeling inspired and having learnt something new! Today, it was my turn to present. If I ever feel nervous before presentations, I just remind myself that everyone only wants the best for me and that they’re excited to hear me speak about something I’m passionate about! Taking a few deep breaths before starting always helps too. Having prepared beforehand, the presentation went well and it spurred a productive discussion about the impact of school factors on our own study, the ReSET Project.
⏰3:00-5:00PM: Final Stretch –– Third Task!
The last couple of hours of the day can be a struggle. Light levels dip and energy levels usually follow suit. Although it’s tempting, I usually try to steer away from the urge to have more caffeine. I’ve found this impacts my sleep later on and only makes me worse off the next day. I’ve been known to “shake it off” if I’m feeling the sluggishness take over me – quite literally standing up and shaking my limbs and body to wake myself up. Silly but effective! Sometimes we even put music on and have a 5-minute dance party (at a respectable volume, of course). At this point I’ve gathered enough energy to tackle my third and final task of the day – doing a literature review for a qualitative paper I’m writing for the project. I use Mendeley to keep track of what I’m reading which helps me stay organised. It has a handy browser extension which is a huge timesaver!
⏰5:00PM-6:00PM: Cycle Home
Although motivation is at its lowest level, I give it one final push and hop back on my bike to ride home. Whilst sometimes I dread it, it usually fades within 5 minutes of my ride as I feel the wind on my face and the day slowly melting away…
⏰6:00PM: Evening Routines
I firmly believe in the importance of a work/life balance. For me, this means leaving work at work and making time for things I enjoy in my spare time. There will always be a to-do list, so remember to dedicate time nurture those passions, hobbies and relationships outside of work. Make joy a priority!
Thank you for reading. Please share your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you’d like other example days from our team members!
