We are seeking a highly motivated Policy Research Assistant to join the Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI) Policy and Practice Research Group at the University of Oxford. You will be a part of a research group that undertakes applied research on the design and implementation of policy and practice (including public health) for pandemic preparedness and response.
The position will be managed by Prof Alice Norton, Head of the PSI Policy and Practice Research Group and GloPID-R Research and Policy Team, as well as the Academic and Policy Lead for the African Pandemic Sciences Collaborative (with the Science for Africa Foundation and MasterCard Foundation).
As a Policy Research Assistant, you will be collaborating with host institutions on a policy project, selected from a curated list of placement opportunities, developed in association with EDCTP and the MSc IHTM programme leads. The final output of the position will be a policy report and presentation, which will be disseminated (as appropriate) to relevant stakeholders, and the applicant will be supported to turn this into an academic publication where possible. The PSI Policy and Practice Research Group, along with other experts nominated by Prof Norton, will provide academic support to help develop these publications.
It is essential that you hold a Master’s degree in a relevant subject (i.e., global health, international development, tropical medicine, public health, etc.). Your future aims must align to the project opportunities such as, working with national and international policy organisations to improve the development of implementation of new policies to improve global health and pandemic preparedness, with a particular focus on Africa). You must also have the ability to manage own research and administrative activities.
Applications for this vacancy should be made online and you will need to upload a supporting statement and CV. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience. Please restrict your documentation to your CV and supporting statement only. Any other documents will be requested at a later date.
This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract for 6 months and is funded by EDCTP.
Only applications received before 12 midday on 25 August 2026 will be considered. Please quote 187798 on all correspondence.
