Research Fellow

About us

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a postdoctoral researcher to play a key role in a new applied research project in UCL’s Department of Language and Cognition, part of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences (www.ucl.ac.uk/pals) within UCL’s Faculty of Brain Sciences. The Department offers outstanding resources for research into language development, assessment, and intervention across the lifespan. Situated within a vibrant academic environment, the successful candidate will be part of a small, focused team, providing a highly collaborative setting and the opportunity to shape meaningful, applied research from the outset.

About the role

The successful applicant will take a leading role in a new Nuffield Foundation–funded project investigating how young children’s language development can be supported by childminders. The project aims to build a stronger understanding of current language-supportive practices and to evaluate the success of an intervention to enhance children’s early communication outcomes. The role involves applied, mixed-methods research across two stages: exploratory interviews, focus groups, and surveys with childminders, followed by a formative evaluation of an adapted language enrichment programme.

Due to funding restrictions, the successful candidate must be able to start the role before 30^th Sept.

This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 40% on site.

The salary for this role is Grade 7, spine point 31: £44,480.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.

About you

We are seeking a highly-motivated researcher with a PhD in developmental psychology, language development, early childhood education, or a related field. The postholder will take a leading role in planning, managing, and conducting mixed-methods research across all stages of the project. This includes designing and delivering qualitative interviews, surveys, and observations, as well as supporting the adaptation and evaluation of a language enrichment programme for childminders. They will be responsible for coordinating data collection, ensuring high standards of data management and ethical compliance, analysing qualitative and quantitative datasets, and effectively communicating findings. Strong project management skills and the ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including childminders and allied professionals, are essential.

The successful candidate must have a clear DBS check completed within the first month of starting the role .

Candidates who have not yet been awarded their PhD but are near completion will be considered. Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B (salary range £38,607 - £41,255 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.

What we offer

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

Customer advert reference: B02-08965

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