Research Assistant / Research Fellow

About us

Research in the Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) focuses on building a science of cities from a multidisciplinary base, drawing on cutting edge methods and ideas in modelling, complexity, visualisation and computation. This is related to the pursuit of solutions to the grand challenges that affect our cities such as climate change, housing and economic development. Our current mix of architects, planners, geographers, mathematicians, physicists, transport engineers, and computer scientists make CASA a unique and world-leading unit within the Faculty of the Built Environment at UCL.

About the role

This is a short term role associated with a collaborative project involving UCL, the Trussell Trust and Citizens Advice. The Trussell Trust is a organization that aids and advises a large network of independent food banks spread across the UK. Citizens Advice, also a charity, aids people in need to access help and services, including but not limited to food banks. In recent years, food bank use has dramatically increased, boosted by the pandemic and cost of living crisis. Beyond hunger and a need to access food, food bank users tend to also suffer from health, housing and financial challenges. The overarching aim of this project is to aid the Trussell Trust and their food banks better understand the local ecosystem of client needs and available services beyond food itself deploying an innovative mix of analytical tools and data sets. The researcher would be leading the analytical work, deploying a mix of data science and modelling tools, and working closely with the data science t eam of both partners as well as two specific food banks (there will be an opportunity to visit these food banks). This is a fixed term post available from 01.04.2024 and is funded for 4 months in the first instance. Must end by 31st December 2024 due to funding constraints.

About you

The postholder will have completed or be currently undertaking a PhD (or have equivalent experience) in a related discipline (spatial data science, quantitative geography, applied maths, statistics, computer science or similar). They will be highly proficient and experienced in coding (using Python or similar) and have extensive experience handling and analysing large complex data sets, including spatial data; deep knowledge of applying spatial data science methods and machine learning algorithms in a research context.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Job ref.: B04-04853

Closing date: 08-Apr-2024 - 23.59 (UK time)

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