Research Catalyst Fellow, Centre for Translation Studies

Surrey; Guildford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Centre for Translation Studies at the University of Surrey is seeking a high-potential Research Catalyst Fellow to strengthen CTS's research capacity, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and help develop ambitious research projects supported by competitive external funding, generating high-quality outputs and meaningful impact.

Based in CTS, you will connect the centre's expertise in translation, interpreting and language technologies with the University's wider research strengths,

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in computational linguistics, NLP, or translation and interpreting.
• Experience contributing to successful funding proposals or collaborative research projects.
• Ability to identify funding opportunities and shape research questions with interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong methodological and analytical skills to support high-quality outputs.

Responsibilities

• Identify funding opportunities aligned with CTS's priorities and contribute to competitive proposals.
• Collaborate with academic colleagues, postgraduate researchers and external partners to shape study designs and narratives.
• Support independent research agenda up to 20% of workload to build research profile and publication pipeline.
• Communicate research significance to diverse audiences and stakeholders.

Skills

Strong methodological skills

Communication to diverse audiences

Education

Doctoral degree or near completion in computational linguistics / NLP / translation & interpreting

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF SURREY Research Field Language sciences Literature Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 6 Dec 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Centre for Translation Studies at the University of Surrey is seeking a high-potential Research Catalyst Fellow to strengthen CTS's research capacity, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and help develop ambitious research projects supported by competitive external funding, generating high-quality outputs and meaningful impact.

Based in CTS, you will connect the centre's expertise in translation, interpreting and language technologies with the University's wider research strengths, including other research centres and pan-University Institutes, to identify opportunities and bring together complementary expertise to address challenges in multilingual and accessible communication, particularly those arising from the increasing use of AI.

A substantial part of the role will involve identifying funding opportunities aligned with CTS's research priorities and contributing to competitive proposals. You will work with academic colleagues, postgraduate researchers and external partners to formulate research questions, shape study designs and craft persuasive scholarly narratives that convey the significance, originality and potential impact of proposed research. You will also generate evidence for proposals through literature reviews, pilot studies and other research activities. This work will support your own academic development while helping to build a sustainable portfolio of externally funded research.

Alongside your collaborative research responsibilities, up to 20% of your workload will be protected for your independent research agenda. This will support the development of your research profile and publication pipeline, alongside opportunities to contribute to publications arising from collaborative projects.

We are looking for a proactive and collaborative researcher with a doctoral degree, or who is very near completion, in computational linguistics, natural language processing, or translation and interpreting with a strong focus on technologies. You will bring relevant research experience, strong methodological skills and the ability to identify promising research questions and communicate their significance to different audiences. An understanding of the research funding landscape, experience contributing to successful funding applications or collaborative research projects, and the ability to help shape compelling research proposals will be particularly important. This is an opportunity to combine research expertise with intellectual initiative and collaborative working to help catalyse interdisciplinary research at CTS.

About the Centre for Translation Studies

Established in 1982, CTS is an internationally leading research centre advancing translation, interpreting and multilingual and accessible communication, with a focus on the responsible, human-centred use of AI and language technologies. In 2019, CTS received a Research England Expanding Excellence in England award, as one of 13 research centres selected nationally, to expand its interdisciplinary research on integrating human and machine capabilities in translation and interpreting. In 2023, the Leverhulme Trust funded CTS to establish a Doctoral Scholarships Network in AI-enabled Digital Accessibility.

CTS brings together expertise in translation and interpreting studies, linguistics, language technologies, natural language processing and AI, with research spanning translation, interpreting, audiovisual translation and accessibility, and multilingual communication in professional and civic contexts. Partnerships with industry, professional bodies and third-sector organisations, alongside links with the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, connect research with real-world needs. Funded research, postgraduate education, professional training and consultancy extend CTS’s reach and impact.