Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (BLG DRC)
The 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 and support better decision-making and data-driven policy.
BLG DRC was founded in January 2014 and it has been awarded subsequent funding for 3 years from the 1st of April 2019. 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. The Centre is led by the PI and Director, Prof Maria Fasli.
Duties of the Role
BLG DRC seeks to appoint a Senior Research Officer (Grade 8) or Research Fellow (Grade 9), to undertake the fundamental and applied social sciences research under the work programme of the Centre and 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 contributing to public engagement & ‘impact; to explore all appropriate contributions to impact and engagement activities, such as community engagement and interactions with other public sector bodies, business and the third sector. In addition, you will develop Interdisciplinary Collaborations within BLG DRC and the University, taking an active role in facilitating and catalysing collaboration across disciplinary boundaries.A full list of duties can be found within the attached job pack.
Skills and qualifications required
The successful candidate will have relevant research experience and publications. For appointment at Grade 9, it is essential that your publications meet the criteria for submission to the Research Excellence Framework, and you have the ability to conduct and develop independent high-quality research.
Applicants are 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 (for Grade 8 appointments). Applicants should also have 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.
At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity 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, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.
To support this commitment we have our Global Forum, a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based Faith Centre, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives. For more information see: https://www.essex.ac.uk/life/student-facilities/religion-and-faith
Please see the attached job pack, which contains 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).
*More information: Working at the University
