Research Officer

University of Essex; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Colchester is seeking a Research Officer to develop the LISTRA web application for speech analysis. This role involves working with modern frameworks such as React and TypeScript to create user-friendly interfaces and improve the efficiency of speech processing research. The position offers remote working flexibility and a contract totaling 260 hours over 4 months, with an estimated hourly rate of £27. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience with React, ideally React 18+.
• Strong proficiency in JavaScript and TypeScript.
• Experience with modern CSS frameworks.
• Familiarity with RESTful API integration.

Responsibilities

• Develop frontend components using React and TypeScript.
• Integrate modern UI libraries with Tailwind CSS.
• Implement audio visualization features.
• Create responsive, accessible interfaces.

Skills

React

JavaScript

TypeScript

Tailwind CSS

RESTful API integration

Git/GitHub

HTML5 and CSS3

Job description

Project Overview

The School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering is developing LISTRA (Language Interface for Speech Technology, Research & Analysis), an innovative web-based research platform for speech analysis and psycholinguistics research. This project addresses critical inefficiencies in current academic workflows by providing modern, automated tools to support audio processing and annotation.

The platform will support and enhance manual speech segmentation processes that currently require researchers to spend 6-8 hours processing a single 20-minute audio recording. LISTRA aims to reduce manual handling of large speech audio datasets by a substantial margin while improving research precision and enabling new clinical diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Role

The Research Officer will contribute to the frontend development of the LISTRA web application, working with contemporary frameworks and tools to create an intuitive, responsive interface for researchers conducting speech analysis. This role is essential for translating complex research requirements into user-friendly web interfaces that will be used by psycholinguistics researchers and clinicians.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Develop and implement frontend components using React and TypeScript
• Integrate modern UI component libraries (shadcn/ui) with Tailwind CSS
• Implement interactive audio visualization features using Wavesurfer.js or similar libraries
• Create responsive, accessible interfaces following WCAG 2.1 AA standards
• Develop file upload functionality with drag-and-drop capabilities
• Implement real-time progress indicators and status notifications
• Collaborate with the Principal Investigator on API integration and data flow
• Write clean, maintainable, well-documented code following best practices
• Conduct basic testing of implemented features
• Provide technical documentation for developed components

Essential Requirements

Technical Skills

• Demonstrable experience with React (ideally React 18+)
• Strong proficiency in JavaScript and TypeScript
• Experience with modern CSS frameworks (Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, or similar)
• Familiarity with RESTful API integration
• Understanding of responsive web design principles
• Experience with version control systems (Git/GitHub)
• Knowledge of HTML5 and CSS3 standards

Professional Skills

• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervisioni>
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Good time management in a short-term contract environment

Desirable Requirements

• Experience integrating with Python-based backends (FastAPI, Flask, or Django)
• Experience with Wavesurfer.js or similar audio visualization libraries (Peaks.js, WaveSurfer, etc.)
• Experience with component libraries (shadcn/ui, Material-UI, Ant Design, or similar)
• Experience with state management solutions (Zustand, Redux, or similar)
• Familiarity with React Query or similar data-fetching libraries
• Experience with Vite or similar build tools
• Understanding of web accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA)
• Previous experience in academic or research environments
• Experience with testing frameworks (Jest, Vitest, Playwright, or similar)
• Portfolio of previous web development work

Working Arrangements

This is a fixed-term contract for a maximum of 260 hours. The typical working pattern is approximately 12 hours per week over 4 months, but this can be adjusted to suit the candidate's availability and project needs, subject to the following constraints:

• Maximum 20 hours per week for Tier 4 visa holders
• All 260 hours must be used by 31 May 2026
• Remote working is available, with flexibility to accommodate existing commitments

Salary and Benefits

Grade 7, Spine Point 27, with pro‑rata salary and pension contributions (USS). The estimated hourly rate is approximately £27 (subject to pension contributions and final HR calculations).

Right to Work

Employment cannot commence without a verified Right to Work check. Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. Right to Work checks can be conducted online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.