<< Back to search results

Research Assistant

Details


1119435


UCL


12/10/2026


Other - See Job


Full-time; 70 hours total from start date to end date of 30/10/2026


Not Applicable

Pay


£20.92


£3.92

Description

Role

Unitemps are recruiting for a Research Assistant. This role is for an asap start date (early October) and has a projected end date of October 30th 2026. This is a full-time role at 35 hours per week if done across 2 weeks (70 hours total for the project). Payment is set at £20.92 per hour + £3.92 holiday pay. This role is hybrid working with 1 day per week on UCL campus and the other days from home/remote.
 

The Disagreeing Well Programme is positioning UCL as a leader in developing research, education, skills development, partnerships and public engagement focused on constructive disagreement. An essential part of the development of the programme is to identify and connect the research activity of our internal experts already taking place across the university, supporting collaboration and giving that work institutional visibility.

The Programme does not yet have a comprehensive overview of that activity. We know that relevant work is spread across faculties, departments, centres and networks, but is largely visible only to those already connected with it. Without a baseline, the Programme Board cannot connect researchers and projects with the appropriate DW sub-committees and networks, spot overlaps and gaps, or build on existing outputs and impact. 

Two factors constrain delivery at present:

  • A defined, time-limited piece of work: systematic desk research to map projects, centres, networks, teaching, public engagement, events and partnerships, and to compile a directory of relevant academics. This needs around 70 hours of sustained, focused attention over a short period.
  • No capacity to absorb it: the P&P Office is a small, high-pressure team supporting the President & Provost and the wider senior leadership team, and neither the office nor the Chair or Board members have time for detailed information gathering of this kind without displacing higher-value work.

Appointing a Research Assistant for a two to four-week project will: 

1) give the Programme a comprehensive, searchable evidence base of UCL activity and expertise in the field; 

2) enable the Board to connect projects and researchers with the right sub-committees and networks, avoiding duplication and making the most of existing outputs and impact; 

3) identify gaps and opportunities for collaboration across faculties and departments; and 

4) provide recommendations for keeping the information up to date, so the value lasts beyond the project. It also offers a current student or recent graduate paid, relevant research experience.

Duties and responsibilities

Context

The Disagreeing Well Programme builds on UCL's successful Disagreeing Well initiatives and seeks to strengthen research, education, partnerships and public engagement activities focused on constructive disagreement. The programme aims to identify and connect activity taking place across the university, supporting collaboration and ensuring institutional visibility of relevant work.

To support this objective, the Disagreeing Well Programme is seeking a Research Assistant for a short-term project to map relevant activity taking place across UCL and identify researchers whose work contributes to the field.

Purpose of the Role

The Research Assistant will undertake a focused piece of desk-based research to identify and catalogue activities, projects, centres, networks and academic expertise across UCL that align with the aims of the Disagreeing Well Programme.

The findings will help the Programme Board develop a comprehensive overview of relevant activity across the institution, identify opportunities for collaboration, and ensure that projects and researchers are connected with the appropriate programme sub-committees and networks, leverage outputs and impact of activity and avoid duplications.

The post holder will be expected to work independently, exercise judgement in determining relevance, and present findings in a clear and accessible format.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

  • Undertake desk research using UCL websites, research publications, staff profiles, departmental communications and other publicly available information.
  • Identify research projects, centres, institutes, networks, teaching initiatives, public engagement activities, events and partnerships that align with the objectives of the Disagreeing Well Programme.
  • Develop a database of relevant activities across UCL and a directory of academics and researchers working on topics such as constructive disagreement, dialogue across difference, deliberation, democratic participation, free expression, neurological impact of disagreement, social cohesion, conflict resolution, political polarisation, communication skills, active listening and other essential skills supporting constructive debate, pedagogical developments in education around critical thinking and classroom behaviour and discussion.
  • Categorise activities and researchers according to agreed themes and programme workstreams.
  • Highlight potential connections, overlaps and opportunities for collaboration across faculties and departments.
  • Produce a short summary report outlining key findings, themes, gaps and recommendations.
  • Present findings to the Chair of the Programme Board at the conclusion of the two-week project.

Deliverables

By the end of the project, the post holder will provide:

  • A searchable database or spreadsheet of relevant UCL activities and initiatives.
  • A directory of academics and research groups working in relevant fields.
  • A short summary report highlighting key findings, emerging themes and potential opportunities for engagement.
  • Recommendations for future monitoring and updating of the information.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a motivated and curious individual who enjoys finding, synthesising and organising information. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working independently, able to identify relevant material from a wide range of sources, and interested in helping build a clearer picture of the diverse work taking place across UCL that contributes to the Disagreeing Well agenda.

Skills and experience

Essential

  • Postgraduate student, recently graduated student or candidate with appropriate research assistance experience
  • Strong research and information-gathering skills.
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to organise information accurately.
  • Ability to analyse information from a range of sources and identify common themes.
  • Strong written communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or other database or information management tools.
  • Ability to work independently and manage time effectively to meet a tight deadline.

Desirable

  • Experience conducting literature reviews, policy research or desk-based research projects.
  • Understanding of higher education institutions and academic research environments.
  • Interest in topics related to democratic participation, public dialogue, disagreement, social cohesion, public policy, free expression or related fields.
  • Experience of producing brief analytical reports.

Location
UCL; hybrid working, 1 day per week from the office and the others remote/from home

Additional information

This job will close for applications at 11.59pm on Sunday October 4th. Interviews will be held shortly after.

*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).

*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 reserves the right to close this advert for applications prior to the date specified above, if a high volume of suitable applications are received so pleased don't delay applying.

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

Apply for job