Job Description

Ref Number

B02-08965

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

See advert text

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

27-Jul-2025

About us

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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

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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 30th 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

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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

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As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:


41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan Immigration loan Relocation scheme for certain posts On-Site nursery On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance

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

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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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; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Athena Swan Status Statement

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.


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