About the role

You will be a core part of an interdisciplinary team that spans both UCL and the University of Liverpool. It is charged with developing and maintaining a national data service that provides ‘smart data’ to researchers.

This is a varied role that both entails primary research into new forms of data as well as support to the GeoDS user base, which will require delivering shared capabilities and following professional best practice. You will therefore be delivering the services and systems which make data intensive social science research possible, and discovering and innovating new tools, practices, and systems in this field, with a particular focus on geographically referenced data.

The role requires working with Personal and Sensitive Personal Data (as defined under GDPR) and so you will be required to attain BPSS security clearance to use and manage secure data using facilities at UCL and the University of Liverpool. You will be expected to understand legal liability issues related to the handling of GeoDS research data and emulate best practice in this area.

You will work with your management to define a portfolio of responsibilities, a mixture of service delivery, research, and innovation appropriate to your level of seniority.

The appointee will be a member of the Geospatial Analytics and Computing (GSAC) Group, which researches and develops best practice through assembling, linking, visualising and analysing diverse data sources, cognisant of relevant underpinning technologies and social processes; and developing substantive research applications in social and spatial mobility, housing market analysis, demography, disaster recovery, urban design, retailing and health.


This is a full time, fixed term post at Grade 8, spine point 40, with funding available to March . The appointment is available from 1 January , to start as soon as possible. A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.


This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit class="fontSizeMediumPlus">  for more information.

Further details of the department are at href=" enquiries may be made to Prof. Paul Longley via Mr Richard Arnold ().

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 department’s research administration team: The advert will close on Thursday 12th December at 23:59 GMT.

Provisional dates for interview are 18, 19 and 20 December, or early January if candidates are unable to attend a December date.

About you

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with a PhD Degree in computer science, data science / AI, geographic information science, or allied discipline with a strong programming component, with awareness of quantitative methods and social science datasets OR equivalent professional expertise appropriate to the role. You should be able to demonstrate writing research publications of quality acceptable to international journals and authoring technical documents to a high standard.

You must have experience with the core tools of data science and analytics, in a programmatic framework such as R or Python, as well as have experience with at least one specialist technique or tool in data analytics / machine learning, such as natural language processing, deep learning / neural networks, Bayesian inference, Gaussian processes, multiprocessing, or techniques associated with spatial data analysis.

Please see the job description and person specification available at the bottom of this page for more information.

What we offer

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