Research Assistant

Location: 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2ER

About the role 

The Department of Social Policy and Intervention is seeking a Research Assistant with computer science and Earth observation expertise to support climate and population data integration for modelling development accelerator programmes in Africa. You will work closely with the Economic Evaluation Research Team (EERT) to develop innovative, data-driven models to inform large-scale, evidence-based national strategies to prevent child marriage and improve adolescent girls’ education, wellbeing, and economic opportunities in Ethiopia.

You will work at the intersection of computer science, climate data analytics, and social policy, managing Earth Observation (EO) and other geospatial data pipelines, curating and preprocessing climate layers using platforms such as Google Earth Engine, and integrating these with large-scale population surveys. You will also manage and document a collaborative computing environment (e.g., Google Colab) to support interdisciplinary researchers working across economics, public health, and social science. 

About you 

You will have a Master’s degree or be a current doctoral student with strong computation skills and experience preparing environmental and population datasets for analytical use. You will have an understanding of climate-development linkages and experience with research related to gender, adolescent wellbeing, education, or public health. You will be proficient in statistical software (e.g., Stata, Python, R) with strong documentation and reproducible coding practices. An excellent communicator, you will be able to work both independently and as part of a team. 

Direct experience of living or working in Africa and knowledge of development and policy context, particularly in Ethiopia, would also be an advantage for this role. 

The Department is committed to fostering an environment of equality, diversity and inclusion. The hours may be worked flexibly to complement caring responsibilities and applications are welcomed from part-time workers seeking a job share position - please state preferred hours and working pattern in your application.

You will be based in Oxford as your normal place of work however there is opportunity for remote working.

The Department of Social Policy and Intervention holds a Bronze Athena Swan Award which demonstrates our commitment towards advancement of gender equality in higher education and research institutions: equal opportunities, representation and success for all.

How to apply

As part of your application, you will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement, along with the name and contact details of two referees. The supporting statement should explain how you meet the essential criteria for the post using clear examples. Please click here for information and advice on writing an effective supporting statement.

Further information, including how to apply, is available in the attached job description. Any further enquires may be directed to the email address below. 

Only online applications received by 12.00 noon on 22 December 2025 will be considered. Interviews will be held on 19 January 2026.

Please note that the department is closed from 24th December until 5th January and that we will not be contacting applicants until January 2026.

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