Oxford's Department of International Development is hiring a quantitative research assistant to work inside the Young Lives team - one of the longest-running child poverty research programmes in the world. The role is based in Oxford, and the deadline is firm: 12:00 midday BST on 10 June 2026.
The job is about real policy questions, not academic abstractions. The data you analyse informs governments and development agencies in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam.
About the Young Lives Programme
Young Lives has followed around 12,000 children across four countries since 2001, tracking how poverty shapes their lives from birth to adulthood. Oxford's Department of International Development (ODID) leads the programme, working alongside researchers and government partners in each study country.
The dataset is unusually rich. Twenty-five years of longitudinal data on education, nutrition, health, and economic mobility. Few longitudinal programmes match it for depth or duration.
The department holds an Athena Swan bronze award and has active commitments to race equality and anti-discrimination. ODID publishes an explicit commitment to inclusion, one of the few departments that says it plainly rather than burying it in HR language.
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What the Role Involves
- Analyse quantitative data from the Young Lives longitudinal dataset
- Apply advanced statistical modelling and econometric techniques to agreed-upon research priorities
- Work across researchers and policy staff in Oxford and in the four study countries
- Translate hard quantitative findings into language that works for both peer reviewers and government ministers
- Report to the Young Lives Senior Research Officer
Roles of this type in development economics typically require Stata, R, or Python. If you have strong skills in any of these, lead with them in your application.
What They Want
Must Have
- Master's degree in a quantitative social science discipline (economics, social statistics, or equivalent)
- Advanced statistical modelling and econometric skills
- A track record of working with real datasets
- Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills
- Ability to communicate complex analysis to both expert and non-specialist audiences, written and verbal
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Salary and Benefits
The salary range is £35,681 to £41,636 per year on Oxford's Research Grade 6 scale. The starting point within the band depends on experience.
Oxford University staff typically receive pension scheme membership and access to university sports facilities, libraries, and childcare support. Annual leave entitlement for this grade.
The post runs until 31 March 2029. The listing makes no mention of hybrid or remote working. ODID is based in central Oxford at Queen Elizabeth House.
Is This Open to Nigerians?
Unconfirmed. The listing makes no mention of visa sponsorship or right-to-work requirements.
Oxford University does sponsor skilled worker visas for eligible roles, but not every vacancy qualifies. If you are currently outside the UK, check whether vacancy ID 186133 is listed as visa-eligible on the university’s HR portal before investing time in an application. Email recruitment@qeh.ox.ac.uk to confirm directly.
How to Apply
- Go to jobs.ox.ac.uk and search vacancy ID 186133
- Create or log in to your Oxford applicant account
- Upload your CV. Lead with quantitative methods, specific data projects, and cross-team collaboration
- Upload a supporting statement; it is not optional. This is how Oxford panels separate candidates. Address each listed requirement directly with evidence
- Download the full job description PDF (545KB) from the listing for details not in the advert
- Submit before 12:00 midday BST on Wednesday, 10 June 2026: late applications are not accepted
Contact: recruitment@qeh.ox.ac.uk
GizPulse Verdict
A solid mid-career research role at an institution that carries genuine weight in development policy. Young Lives is not a generic consultancy project; 25 years of longitudinal data across four countries is a rare asset, and the researchers who work on it get cited. If you want your statistical work to reach government policy desks rather than journal footnotes, the remit here is real.
Salary: £35,681–£41,636 on Grade 6 is standard for a post-Master's research role at Oxford. It will not make you wealthy in the current UK cost-of-living context, but it is fair for the level of seniority and the institution. The fixed-term end date of March 2029 is the main constraint. Plan your next move before you start.
Who this is for: A researcher with a master’s in economics or social statistics, hands-on econometric experience, and a preference for working inside a long-term programme rather than producing one-off reports.
Who should think twice? Anyone who needs a permanent post. Also, confirm visa eligibility before the deadline. If you are outside the UK, do not invest time in an application before you know where you stand.
One tip: The supporting statement is the whole game at Oxford. The listing asks explicitly for evidence of communicating complex data to non-specialist audiences. Name a specific output: a policy brief, a ministerial presentation, or a public report.
