Research assistant in ethics and equity in structural engineering

Unitemps UCL; Camden Town; Remote; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Unitemps is seeking a part-time Research Assistant at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, UCL, to explore ethics and equity in structural engineering. The role is home-based within the UK, 7 hours per week, from 4 January 2027 to 19 July 2027.

You will support scoping reviews, analyze literature and contribute to a journal article, policy brief and an open research materials repository using qualitative methods and interdisciplinary perspectives on ethics and social dimensions of

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or doctoral study with research training.
• Ability to critically assess concepts and evidence and contribute to interdisciplinary research discussions.
• Experience with literature reviews and qualitative analysis, including document or thematic analysis.
• Ability to read across academic, technical and policy sources and produce clear summaries in English.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail with workload management.
• Interest in ethics, equity and the social dimensions of engineering; ability to work independently with supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Support a scoping review and analysis of literature, design standards and official guidance.
• Contribute to the evidence base for a journal article, policy brief and an open repository of research materials.
• Engage with interdisciplinary research discussions and translate findings into clear summaries.

Education

Master’s degree / doctoral study

Job description

Unitemps are recruiting for a Research assistant in ethics and equity in structural engineering. This is a part-time role at 7 hours per week. This role has a start date of January 4th 2027 and a projected end date of July 19th 2027. Payment is set at £21.33 per hour + £3.99 holiday pay. This role is UCL remote (home based) working.

The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction at University College London (UCL) undertakes research on construction, project management and the built environment. The School is seeking a part-time Research Assistant to support the British Academy/Leverhulme-funded project ‘Equity in structural safety: uncovering bias mechanisms in design codes’, led by Dr Irene Josa.

The project examines how the rules and models used in structural design may incorporate assumptions that leave some groups less protected than others. It brings together engineering ethics, Science and Technology Studies, building regulation and disaster risk research to investigate where these inequities might arise.

The Research Assistant will support a scoping review and analysis of academic literature, design standards, official reports and professional guidance. Their work will help build the evidence base for a journal article, a short policy brief and an open repository of research materials. The role would suit someone with experience in literature reviews and qualitative analysis who is interested in the social and ethical dimensions of engineering.

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Essential

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, or current doctoral study with relevant research training. Relevant disciplines may include sociology, Science and Technology Studies, engineering ethics, public policy, built-environment studies, or civil and structural engineering.
• Ability to critically assess concepts and evidence, develop reasoned interpretations, and contribute constructively to interdisciplinary research discussions.
• Experience of conducting a scoping or systematic literature review, including literature searches, screening and data extraction. Experience gained through a dissertation or research project is relevant.
• Experience of qualitative research methods, particularly document analysis, thematic analysis or qualitative coding.
• Ability to read critically across academic, technical and policy sources and produce clear, well-referenced analytical summaries in English.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to maintain accurate research records and manage an agreed workload.
• An interest in ethics, equity and the social dimensions of engineering, and the ability to work independently on agreed tasks while discussing questions and findings with the supervisor.

Desirable

• Knowledge of engineering ethics, Science and Technology Studies, social inequalities or the governance of technology.
• Familiarity with structural engineering, building regulation, design standards or infrastructure risk.
• Experience with reference-management software such as Zotero, and with organising qualitative evidence in spreadsheets or research software.

UCL remote working

This job will close for applications at 11.59pm on Monday November 9th. Interviews will be held shortly after.

*Please note to be eligible to work within this role, you must have the right to work in the UK, be physically based in the UK and be able to travel to our London based office for a RTW check (if required).

*If you have a full-time contract of employment with UCL, you are not able to work through UCL Unitemps at the same time.

Unitemps reserves the right to close this advert for applications prior to the date specified above, if a high volume of suitable applications are received so pleased don't delay applying.

Unitemps payroll is monthly, one month in arrears, please see the payroll dates here.