Research Associate 0.4fte - Grade 7

University of Liverpool; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Liverpool is seeking a highly motivated researcher/software developer to contribute to a secure, context-sensitive linguistic threat detection system on the Improving Safeguarding Methods project. This fixed-term, part-time role (0.4 FTE) is hybrid, with on-campus presence required ~40% (60% desirable), in Liverpool, funded through EPSRC CyberFocus.

The successful candidate will design, develop, test, validate, document and implement new linguistic tools, collaborating with

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills
• Ability to manage projects and collaborate across teams

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test and validate the linguistic tools.
• Document, implement and review the tools ongoingly.

Job description

Hours of work

Part time (0.4fte)

Tenure

Fixed term until September 2027

Hybrid Working

Minimum requirement of 40% on Campus, with 60% considered desirable where possible

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher/software developer to assist in the development of a secure, context-sensitive linguistic threat detection and analytics system. The position will be on the project Improving Safeguarding Methods–enhancing linguistic monitoring methods for safeguarding EdTech, which is funded through the EPSRC-funded CyberFocus project.

The work will involve collaboration with a non-academic industry partner and intends to make significant methodological advancements in filtering and monitoring (as defined in Keeping Children Safe in Education \[KCSIE\] 2026) by developing novel tools based in (computational) linguistic approaches.

Your work will include the design, development, testing and validation, documentation, implementation, and ongoing review of these new tools. You should therefore have strong programming and project management skills as well as a keen interest in language; an interest in child safeguarding will be advantageous.

Given the project’s focus on research application and impact, strong communication and teamworking skills will be vital.

Informal inquiries can be made with the project lead Mark McGlashan ([e-mail]).

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Closing Date

19 November 2026 23:30

£40,704 to £46,970 per annum