University of Oxford Quantitative Research Officer (Postdoctoral Researcher) Job 2026: Join the Young Lives Global Research Team in the United Kingdom

The University of Oxford is inviting applications for the position of Quantitative Research Officer (Postdoctoral Researcher) within the renowned Young Lives research programme at the Oxford Department of International Development (ODID). This prestigious opportunity offers researchers the chance to contribute to internationally recognized research focused on child poverty, development, and social policy across multiple countries.

Based at Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford Department of International Development, the successful candidate will become part of a collaborative international research team that works across Oxford and the four Young Lives study countries. The role is ideal for researchers with strong quantitative skills who are passionate about generating evidence that informs policies aimed at improving the lives of children and young people in developing countries.

About the Young Lives Research Programme

Young Lives is one of the world’s leading longitudinal studies examining childhood poverty and development. The programme follows the lives of children and young people over an extended period, generating valuable evidence that helps policymakers, governments, development agencies, and researchers understand how poverty affects children’s lives and opportunities.

The research programme has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality evidence that influences development policy and contributes to global debates on education, poverty reduction, child wellbeing, social protection, and economic development.

As part of the Young Lives team, the selected Quantitative Research Officer will support the development of the Young Lives Round 8 Survey while also contributing to key research priorities within the programme.

Position Overview

Job Title

Quantitative Research Officer (Postdoctoral Researcher)

Institution

University of Oxford

Department

Oxford Department of International Development (ODID)

Research Programme

Young Lives

Location

Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TB, United Kingdom

Employment Type

Full-time

Contract Duration

Two-year fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension depending on future funding availability.

Salary

£39,424 – £47,779 per year (Research Grade 7)

Key Responsibilities

The successful applicant will play an important role in supporting both survey development and research activities within the Young Lives programme.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development and implementation of the Young Lives Round 8 Survey.
• Contributing to the programme’s agreed research priorities.
• Conducting advanced quantitative analysis related to child poverty and development.
• Working collaboratively with researchers and policy staff based in Oxford and across the four Young Lives study countries.
• Managing and analyzing large-scale survey and panel datasets.
• Producing high-quality research outputs suitable for publication.
• Developing research proposals and presenting findings to academic and policy audiences.
• Participating in meetings and representing the Young Lives programme when required.
• Contributing evidence that informs national and international development policy discussions.

Required Qualifications and Skills

The University of Oxford is seeking a highly motivated researcher with strong quantitative expertise and a demonstrated commitment to development research.

Applicants should possess:

Academic Qualifications

• A PhD/DPhil or near completion of a PhD/DPhil in:
  • Economics
  • Development Economics
  • Quantitative Social Sciences
  • Development Studies
  • Or another closely related discipline

Technical Skills

• Strong quantitative research skills.
• Advanced statistical analysis capabilities.
• Excellent proficiency in STATA.
• Experience working with survey datasets and panel data.
• Experience conducting household survey analysis.
• Knowledge of development-related data analysis, particularly in developing-country contexts.

Research Competencies

• Expertise in child poverty research.
• Ability to generate rigorous evidence for academic and policy audiences.
• Experience preparing research outputs for publication.
• Capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research projects.

Communication Skills

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Excellent written communication skills.
• Strong presentation abilities.
• Experience communicating research findings to different audiences.
• Ability to represent research programmes professionally.
• Strong collaborative and teamwork skills.

Why Work at the Oxford Department of International Development?

The Oxford Department of International Development is internationally recognized for excellence in research, teaching, and policy engagement. Researchers at ODID contribute to important global conversations on poverty reduction, development, inequality, governance, education, migration, and social policy.

Working within ODID provides opportunities to:

• Collaborate with world-class researchers.
• Contribute to globally influential development research.
• Engage with international policy debates.
• Access Oxford’s extensive academic resources and networks.
• Build professional connections across multiple countries and institutions.
• Develop a strong publication and research profile.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Oxford Department of International Development actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion within its academic community.

The department emphasizes creating a welcoming environment where individuals can thrive without needing to hide any aspect of their identity. ODID recognizes the impact of societal inequalities and continues to work toward building an inclusive workplace.

The department holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award in recognition of its efforts to promote organizational and cultural change that supports equality and diversity. In addition, ODID continues to implement measures that advance race equality and reduce bias and discrimination.

The University encourages all eligible candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online through the University of Oxford recruitment system.

Applicants will be required to upload:

1. A Curriculum Vitae (CV).
2. A Supporting Statement.

Important note:

Only the CV and Supporting Statement will be considered during the shortlisting process. Any additional documents uploaded will not be reviewed.

Candidates are therefore encouraged to ensure that their CV and supporting statement clearly demonstrate how they meet the required qualifications, experience, and skills outlined in the job description.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted before:

24 July 2026 at 12:00 midday (United Kingdom time)

Late applications will not be considered.

Why This Opportunity Matters

This position offers an exceptional opportunity for quantitative researchers interested in child poverty, development economics, and international development research. Through the Young Lives programme, the successful candidate will contribute to evidence that shapes policy decisions affecting millions of children and young people globally.

Researchers seeking a postdoctoral role that combines rigorous quantitative analysis, international collaboration, policy impact, and world-class academic engagement will find this University of Oxford opportunity particularly attractive.

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