UCL Hiring: Postdoctoral Research Associate for BreaktheBias Human Rights Project (Salary: £44,480–£46,796)

University College London (UCL), one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary institutions, is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Department of Political Science. This full-time, fixed-term position is part of the BreaktheBias Project, a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded initiative led by Professor Veronika Fikfak. The post is available from October 2025 for a 36-month term.

About UCL and the Department

Founded in 1826, UCL was the first university in England to admit students regardless of race, religion, or gender. The institution continues to foster academic excellence through its diverse community of over 13,000 staff and nearly 39,000 students from 150 countries. UCL consistently ranks in the top ten universities worldwide (QS World University Rankings).

The Department of Political Science at UCL is a globally recognized hub for political research, public policy, and public management. Home to over 150 academic, research, and professional staff, as well as MPhil/PhD students, the department provides a dynamic environment for impactful scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration.

About the BreaktheBias Project

The BreaktheBias project addresses a critical and often overlooked challenge in international human rights law: inequitable access to justice. While the law stipulates that all individuals have the right to have their claims heard, real-world outcomes reflect stark disparities. For example, only 15% of successful applicants at the European Court of Human Rights are women, with the majority of claims filed by men or anonymous applicants. Likewise, those who can afford legal representation before UN Treaty Bodies are more likely to progress to the merits stage, raising questions about systemic inequality.

This project investigates the structural and procedural barriers that hinder marginalized individuals—such as women, elderly, disabled persons, or those from underrepresented groups—from accessing international justice. It aims to identify how current legal frameworks and practices might reinforce inequities in human rights adjudication.

Role Summary

The appointed Postdoctoral Research Associate will contribute to the project through:

• Data collection and analysis from international human rights databases
• Coding and application of machine learning to identify patterns in case law
• Mapping of institutional and non-institutional actors that affect access to justice
• Investigating procedural and substantive barriers within international legal systems
• Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team and participating in academic conferences and workshops

This hybrid role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge empirical research in international law and political science, with significant potential for real-world impact.

Candidate Profile

Applicants must hold a PhD in law, political science, or a related discipline. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven ability to manage and analyze large datasets
• Experience conducting quantitative and empirical legal research
• Familiarity with large language models (LLMs) for data extraction from case law (desirable)
• Knowledge of international human rights adjudication processes
• Proficiency in French or Spanish (advantageous)

Salary and Benefits

• Salary Range: £44,480 – £46,796 per annum (inclusive of London Allowance)
• Working Pattern: Full-time, hybrid working available
• Contract Type: Fixed-term for 36 months
• Leave Entitlement: 41 days per year (including 27 annual leave days, 8 public holidays, and 6 closure days)
• Additional benefits include:
  • Defined benefit pension scheme (CARE)
  • On-site nursery and gym
  • Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme
  • Enhanced family leave provisions
  • Access to UCL’s Employee Assistance Programme
  • Staff discounts and wellbeing services

Application Details

Closing Date: 4 July 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Location: London (with hybrid flexibility)
Secondment: Not available

Applicants who are underrepresented in academia are especially encouraged to apply, including individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled and neurodiverse persons, and women, particularly at postdoctoral and senior academic levels.

Apply via UCL’s job portal

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring entity. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring entity directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.