DepartmentThe Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (BLG DRC) is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to undertake fundamental and applied research in Social Sciences and advanced Data Science and Artificial Intelligence techniques with applications in Social Sciences research. The Centre (http://www.blgdataresearch.org) works together with businesses, public sector organisations and other stakeholders to enable them to use data more effectively. BLG DRC was founded in January 2014 and it has been awarded subsequent funding for 3 years. The Centre will be based at the University of Essex involving academics and researchers from a range of academic departments and schools: Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Government, Health and Social Care, Mathematical Sciences, Economics and the Essex Business School.Duties of the RoleBLG DRC seeks to appoint two full-time, fixed-term Research Fellows to undertake the fundamental and applied social sciences research under the work programme of the Centre and also support the delivery of the integrated outreach and engagement programme. The thematic areas of work will be supporting vulnerable people and understanding factors affecting economic growth as well as the development of data science techniques with applications in social sciences. The main duties of the post include: to undertake Foundational and Applied Research and high quality independent and collaborative research within the scope of the BLG DRC.The duties also include: to contribute to Public Engagement & Impact, develop Interdisciplinary Collaborations within BLG DRC and the University, undertake foundational and applied research and contribute to the Integrated Outreach Programme. For appointment at Grade 9 the duties of the post will include, undertaking high-quality independent research and publishing research work which is eligible for submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF)Skills and qualifications requiredThe successful candidates will have relevant research experience and publications and for appointment at Grade 9 their publications would meet the criteria for submission to the Research Excellence Framework.Applicants are also required to have a PhD in Social Sciences, Social Data Science, Computational Social Science, or related discipline (essential for grade 9 appointment) or should be close to the completion of a PhD, writing up or under examination (for Grade 8 appointments). Applicants should also have some experience in programming in high level languages such R and Python, and experience of successfully delivering teaching/training in their area of expertise or demonstrable potential for achieving this.Appointment at grade 8 will be made as ASR Senior Research Officer. Appointment at grade 9 will be made as ASR Research Fellow.At the University of Essex internationalism is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally-oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries and a university where you can find the world in one place.Please see the further detail link below for a full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role plus more information relating to the post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application. Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please telephone the Resourcing Team (01206 876559).*Further detail: Research Fellow jobpack
*More information: Working at the University