Job Description

Ref Number

B04-06912

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

UCL BEAMS (B04)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

43,981-52,586

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

02-Jan-2026

About Us

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The Bartlett is unrivalled in its breadth and depth of disciplines, programmes and departments. It is made up of 9 departments, which are constructed of 13 schools, Institutes, Centres and Units, providing teaching and research in a wide range of subject areas to over 4,000 students each year from across the world. The Bartlett is ranked #1 in the world for Architecture and the Built Environment and remains #1 in the UK for the eleventh year in a row, in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2025.



The Bartlett School of Architecture is a world-leading place to study, teach and research architecture. The School is a key part of UCL, a top-world-ranking university, where architecture has been taught for over 175 years. With over 400 permanent staff, across four London sites, the school enjoys a rich reputation for cultivating innovative ideas in architecture. For further information about the School, please visit www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture

About the role

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The Bartlett School of Architecture is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow in Secure Spatial Analytics (1.0 FTE, part-time possible) as part of the MRC-funded project Your Health and Where You Live. The post is funded until 31 July 2026 in the first instance.



As a Research Fellow in Secure Spatial Analytics, you will join a collaborative team at UCL's Bartlett School of Architecture, working with colleagues at the University of Liverpool and NHS partners on privacy-preserving health and environment research. Over approximately six months you will focus on a clearly scoped software and methods package: designing, prototyping and evaluating practical ways to make Trusted Research Environment / Secure Data Environment datasets "spatially aware" while protecting privacy. This includes building and testing R and/or Python code that can be re-used by other analysts, for example distance matrices, neighbourhood structures or secure linkage tools.



You will bring strong programming skills (ideally in R or Python) and substantial experience working with real datasets. You will already be strong in at least one of two areas - spatial data (for example maps, networks or spatial statistics) or privacy-preserving methods (for example anonymisation, k-anonymity or secure linkage) - and you will be keen to learn the other on the job. Experience with Trusted Research Environments, DataSHIELD or UK health data is welcome but not essential. The work is well scoped for a six-month appointment, with clear deliverables and close technical support from the UCL and Liverpool team.



The role is suitable for candidates with a PhD (or near completion) or equivalent experience (for example research software engineering on scientific data) in computer science, software engineering, spatial data science, statistics, geography, epidemiology, public health or a related field. The role requires good analytical and communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-institutional team. The salary for this role is Grade 7, 45,103 per annum (pro rata at 1.0 FTE). A higher starting salary may be available depending on the agreed appointment date and duration. This role is eligible for part-time, hybrid and flexible working. 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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You are a technically strong programmer who enjoys turning ideas into reliable code. You have substantial experience writing and maintaining non-trivial R or Python code on real datasets, and you are comfortable using version control, basic tests and documentation.



You are strong in at least one of two areas:


Working with spatial data (for example, maps, neighbourhood structures or distance matrices), or Privacy-preserving methods and disclosure control (for example anonymisation, k-anonymity, secure linkage).

You are keen to learn the parts that are new to you. You do not need prior experience working in Trusted Research Environments or with DataSHIELD; an interest in privacy and secure analytics, and a willingness to learn, are more important. In this role you will help us make individual-level health data in Trusted Research Environments/Secure Data Environments "spatially aware" while keeping people anonymous. You will prototype practical methods, apply them in one or two case studies, and release them as re-usable R/Python code, simple scripts and short "how-to" notes for analysts and data controllers.



You work well in a small, collaborative team, can manage your own workload over a 6-month project, and can explain technical trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. You are motivated by building tools that others will actually use and by contributing to fairer, place-based health research with real policy impact.

Application Process

The advert will close on 2 January 2026 at 23:59 GMT, however we may close applications early if we receive a high volume of applications. Early application submission is recommended. As a minimum we will keep all adverts open for 2 weeks.


Interview Date(s) are scheduled online for mid-January.



A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. This role may suit candidates from research software engineering, data science or spatial analysis backgrounds who are interested in privacy-preserving methods and secure health data.


When applying, please include a personal statement that contains a simple table listing all essential criteria (and any desirable criteria you meet). For each criterion, give a brief, evidence-based explanation (bullet points are sufficient) of how you satisfy it*
This role

does not meet the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation, and candidates will need to demonstrate the right to work in the UK.*

Contact Details

If you have any queries about the role, please contact k.krenz@ucl.ac.uk.*
If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the HR Team at bartlett.arch.hr@ucl.ac.uk.*


The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work - please visit www.ucl.ac.uk/ways-of-working to find out more.

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/reward-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; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.



Our Faculty 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/