Department of Applied Social Sciences
Half-time Research Assistant
(Ref. 260807015)
[Appointment period: twelve months initially, with possibility of further appointment]
Duties
The appointee will assist the project leader in the research project - “Assessing the efficacy of digital heart rate variability biofeedback as an adjunct to digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in childhood trauma survivors with sleep disturbances”. He/She will be required to:
(a) assist in the preparation of research instruments, including interview protocols, questionnaires, sleep diaries, and app-based measures;
(b) conduct systematic literature review on childhood trauma, sleep disturbance, autonomic dysregulation and digital interventions, e.g. dCBTI, HRV biofeedback, etc.;
(c) support recruitment and screening of participants with history of chronic childhood trauma and clinically significant insomnia;
(d) coordinate and carry out data collection, including subjective measures, actigraphy-based sleep tracking and heart rate variability assessments, e.g. Polar H10 etc.;
(e) perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis using statistical and psychophysiological methods;
(f) assist in programme development, implementation and evaluation of digital intervention protocols and app-based components;
(g) assist in report writing, preparation of manuscripts and dissemination of findings to academic and practice communities; and
(h) perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Unit or his/her delegates.
Qualifications
Applicants should:
(a) have an honours degree, preferably in Psychology, Social Work, Cognitive/Computational Social Science or other related disciplines or an equivalent qualification;
(b) have a good command of both written and spoken English and Chinese;
(c) possess strong statistical knowledge and data analysis skills in using R, SPSS, Jamovi etc.;
(d) have experience and/or training in data collection and analysis,
(e) have a strong sense of responsibility, good interpersonal skills;
(f) demonstrate strong research interest in sleep, childhood trauma, autonomic regulation, digitally mediated programme development and evaluation;
(g) demonstrate sensitivity when working with trauma survivors;
(h) demonstrate consistency and accuracy in following complex study protocols and administrative procedures; and
(i) be highly organised, meticulous, and detail-minded.
Preference will be given to those with experience in handling data on trauma-exposed populations, sleep measurement, and psychophysiology.
Applicants are invited to contact Dr Albe S.Y. Ng via email at albesy.ng@polyu.edu.hk for further information.
Conditions of Service
A highly competitive remuneration package will be offered.
Consideration of applications will commence on 14 August 2026 until the position is filled.
Posting date: 7 August 2026