Ref Number
B03-03213
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
UCL SLASH (B03)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Part time
Salary
See advert text
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
07-Sept-2026
Context
UCL is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary universities. We operate in a global context and are committed to excellence, innovation and the promotion of global understanding in all our activities: research, teaching, learning, enterprise and community engagement. Founded in 1826, UCL was the first university in England to admit students regardless of race, religion or gender. It continues to thrive on the creativity and diversity of its community which today comprises more than 13,000 staff and 18,300 undergraduates and 20,600 postgraduate students from 150 different countries across the globe. UCL is consistently ranked within the world’s top ten universities (QS World University Rankings).
The Department of Political Science at UCL is a leading international centre for political research. It offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all major fields of politics, as well as public management and public policy. Over 150 people make up the Department of Political Science including academic, teaching, and research staff, professional services, and MPhil/PhD students (for an overview of our research, see https://www.ucl.ac.uk/drupal/site_political-science/research). More details about the Department of Political Science and UCL can be found below and at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/political-science/ and https://www.ucl.ac.uk/about/.
The Digital Speech Lab hosts research on the proper governance of the digital public sphere, investigating how to uphold free speech while protecting democratic norms and institutions from threats. Our Digital Civics Initiative trains UCL undergraduates to run sessions with London-area school students, developing the skills of effective citizenship in the digital age.
The Department of Political Science is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow (or Research Assistant) in Politics, Philosophy, and Digital Civic Education. The post-holder will co-lead our effort to expand the activities of the Digital Speech Lab to engage UCL undergraduates, in two principal ways.
First, the post-holder will supervise a team of undergraduates to deliver “digital citizenship” seminars in London-area secondary schools. The seminars engage students in critical debate on what it means to be good democratic citizens in the digital age, with special attention to the promises and problems of social media and artificial intelligence.
Second, the post-holder will assist in recruiting and assigning undergraduates to serve as research assistants to UCL faculty working on projects connected to the Lab’s themes.
The position is available as soon as possible from September 2026, for 12 months. Candidates who have been awarded a PhD will be appointed at Grade 7 (full-time equivalent salary £45,103 per annum, including London Allowance). Candidates without a PhD will be appointed at Grade 6 (full-time equivalent salary £39,148 per annum, including London Allowance). Salary will be pro rata based on a 0.40 FTE appointment.
This part-time role is ideal for someone who is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree or working flexibly in this field. The role requires flexibility in working hours to accommodate fluctuations in workload across the school year, based on an average of 14 hours per week.
The post-holder will be a full member of the Digital Speech Lab, welcome to all events and meetings.
We encourage applications from those who are underrepresented in the sector and at UCL including but, not exclusive, to non-graduates, disabled, D/deaf and neurodiverse people, LGBTQ+ people, people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, especially women. Note that those without a PhD will be appointed as a Grade 6 Research Assistant.
- The post holder will be expected to have a degree in Political Science, Philosophy, Education, Law, or another field relevant to this post.
- Demonstrable research interests relevant to the role.
- Past teaching experience.
- The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong communication skills (both oral and written), team-working skills, pedagogical skills, self-direction and the capacity for independent work.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We encourage applications from those who are underrepresented in the sector and at UCL including but, not exclusive, to disabled, D/deaf and neurodiverse people, LGBT+ people, people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, especially women. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
