Research Assistant (Grand Challenges - Inequalities)

Reference
1105121

Branch
UCL

Start date
10/12/2025

Duration
Other - See Job

Hours and days
36.5 hours

Dress code
Not Applicable

Rate of pay
£23.70

Holiday rate
£4.44

Role

Unitemps are recruiting for a Research Assistant (Grand Challenges - Inequalities) within the RIGE: Grand Challenges department. The role is to work the date of Wednesday 10th December 2025 and will run until Wednesday 10th June 2026 full time at 36.5 hours per week .Payment is set at £23.70+ holiday pay per hour and the role will be HYBRID based.

Over the coming academic year (2025-26), UCL’s Grand Challenge of Inequalities is initiating a focused six month discovery phase to baseline and coordinate its inequalities programme across economic, political, and cultural/identity lenses. This post will synthesise external evidence from academic and grey literature looking at the state of inequalities, at local, national and global levels with a focus on a systemic understanding of barriers and how to address them. The postholder is expected to produce a decision grade baseline report identifying the areas of focus for the GC Inequalities theme investment.

Duties and responsibilities

The post would suit a post doctoral researcher (or close to submission final year PhD student) with experience of qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis and a specialism in one or more of the pillars of investigation. Working closely with the GC Inequalities team, the postholder will be responsible for collecting, synthesising and reporting evidence on inequalities across economic, political and cultural/identity dimensions, as well as contributing to research design and stakeholder engagement. 

This will include:

• Undertaking a rapid evidence review of key literature and policy documents on economic, political, and cultural/identity inequalities, including major reviews.
• Devising and conducting semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from UCL, policy, civil society and external organisations to inform the landscape assessment.
• Identifying and synthesising key findings from both qualitative and quantitative evidence, and writing up into a decision grade baseline report, setting of recommendations for future work.
• Organising and convening virtual and/or in-person engagement activities—such as roundtable discussions, workshops, or briefings—to share interim findings and gather feedback.
• Developing visual outputs (e.g., infographics, evidence-gap maps, diagrams) to communicate the mapping and synthesis of inequalities work.
• Contributing to the design of two pilot blueprints: (i) an economic modelling track (e.g., inequality tax scenarios) and (ii) a community-based political information intervention protocol, for potential implementation in the next phase.

The post offers valuable development opportunities for candidates at doctoral or post-doctoral level, requiring initiative, independence and collaboration across UCL and with external partners. 

Specifically, the work involves:

• Reviewing and analysing secondary data materials
• Devising and conducting semi-structured interviews
• Identifying and synthesising key findings from both qualitative and quantitative evidence, and writing up into a decision grade baseline report, setting of recommendations for future work.
• Organising and convening virtual and/or in-person engagement activities—such as roundtable discussions, workshops, or briefings—to share interim findings and gather feedback.
• Developing visual outputs (e.g., infographics, evidence-gap maps, diagrams) to communicate the mapping and synthesis of inequalities work.
• Contributing to the design of two pilot blueprints: (i) an economic modelling track (e.g., inequality tax scenarios), and (ii) a community-based political information intervention protocol, for potential implementation in the next phase.
• Maintaining accurate records, managing data in line with UCL policies and GDPR, and supporting the preparation of extension cases or future funding applications.

 

Skills and experience

• Bachelor degree
• Postgraduate degree
• Experience of designing, implementing and evaluating qualitative research
• Experience of designing, implementing and evaluating quantitative research
• Experience of organising and conducting semi-structured interviews and / or roundtable workshops
• Experience of supporting academics in research project delivery
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Experience in technological skills related to qualitative and quantitative research e.g audio recording, transcribing, use of databases, online platforms
• Ability to transcribe interviews to high degree of accuracy and produce a summary of findings
• Experience of writing and synthesising research findings into concise reports and of creating visual outputs 
• Ability to show initiative and work independently
• Personal attributes
• Commitment to supporting high quality, interdisciplinary research collaborations
• Proactive approach to undertaking research as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Commitment to UCL’s equal opportunity policy and the ability to work harmoniously with colleagues of all cultures and backgrounds

Location
Hybrid

Additional information

Please note to be eligible to work within this role, you must have the right to work in the UK, be physically based in the UK and be able to travel to our London based office for a RTW check (if required). This job will close for applications at 11.59pm on 27th November 2025. Interviews will be held shortly after.

Unitemps reserves the right to close this advert for applications prior to the date specified above, if a high volume of suitable applications are received.

If you have a full-time contract of employment with UCL, you are not able to work through UCL Unitemps at the same time.

Unitemps payroll is monthly, one month in arrears, please see the payroll dates here.

Apply for job