Senior Analyst - Metascience

Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)

Contract: Fixed Term until 31 March 2027

Location: Hybrid - Swindon, Polaris House

Closing: 19th August 2024

The Metascience Unit

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are creating a joint Metascience Unit to understand how to improve the way scientific research is funded and conducted, for the benefit of the UK’s economy and society.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will host UKRI’s contribution to the Unit. UKRI staff within the Metascience Unit will be responsible for the development, delivery and investment management of the grants programme. The team will also work with colleagues across UKRI to find opportunities to test and evaluate improvements to UKRI’s funding processes and support the long-term monitoring of the outcome of these trials.

The role

This role will be critical in delivering a major UKRI investment in metascience, leading the delivery of evidence to support policy decisions.

As a key member of the DSIT/UKRI Metascience Unit you will be responsible for the data needs of the Unit, including undertaking or sourcing the analysis of experiment or historic data. You will also lead on developing and coordinating a portfolio of metascience research that is aimed at informing the development of policy and funding practices.

Key responsibilities 

Working as part of the DSIT/UKRI Metascience Unit:

• Leading on the delivery of data needs for the Unit (working with colleagues across UKRI).
• Responsibility for undertaking and sourcing analysis of experimental or historic data to support the Unit’s work.
• Provide ad-hoc analytical support across UKRI using a variety of analytical and statistical methods in support of metascience projects.
• Responsibility for developing and coordinating a portfolio of metascience-related research.
• Supporting the design and delivery of a suite of applied experiments on UKRI funding processes.

About you

You will have a highly numerate background. This role is open to all analysts with the relevant skills and experience.

Essential skills

• analytical experience of:
  • Data wrangling; producing analysis and communicating it to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Analysing data with SQL, R and/or Python
• A good understanding of research funding and the research policy landscape in the UK and internationally (S&I)
• Ability to design, manage and interpret the results of experimental interventions in complicated, real-world situations and communicate results to decision makers.
• Excellent written communication skills (both written and oral) with the ability to produce clear, concise and accurate presentations and written documentation for a wide range of audiences including a non-technical audience (S&I)
• Ability to build and manage relationships with internal and external collaborators at many levels of seniority (S&I)
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt as needs and/or priorities change (S&I)
• Strong project management skills including experience of multi-tasking, prioritising and matrix managing colleagues to optimally deliver projects (S&I)
• Desirable skills
• Experience in research commissioning, investment or grant / project management, including engaging a range of collaborators to deliver effective governance and assurance of project outcomes;
• Experience of scoping new investment ideas, including engaging a range of collaborators to ensure requirements are understood and reflected in proposals (S&I)

For more information, please contact the hiring manager: Suzie Wallace (suzie.wallace@epsrc.ukri.org)  

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