Principal Research Fellow - Institute of Education

Overview

The Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange at Sheffield Hallam University is seeking a Principal Research Fellow. This permanent, full-time position requires thirty-seven hours of work per week based on site. The successful appointee will lead a team of quantitative specialists, provide leadership in external funding bids, and design and deliver large-scale research, evaluation, and knowledge exchange projects within education, sociology, or psychology.

Requirements

Applicants need a specialism in statistics and quantitative methods in social research, alongside experience in securing external funding and conducting large-scale research and evaluation projects. Candidates must be capable of providing quality assurance for quantitative work, leading on new statistical methods, and sharing skills with colleagues. The role requires critical approaches to research design and the ability to communicate findings clearly to both expert and non-expert audiences through writing and speech. Proficiency in Stata or the R package is necessary.

Desirable qualifications include experience designing and delivering projects using experimental designs such as randomized controlled trials, or quasi-experimental approaches including propensity matching, regression discontinuity, and synthetic controls. Familiarity with psychological outcome measures and leading complex projects involving diverse methodological approaches is also viewed positively.

What you get

The position provides a salary ranging from 61,165 to 70,878 British Pounds per annum, depending on experience. A diverse range of benefits and opportunities are offered to support a rewarding career in a supportive environment. The university may also be able to sponsor the employment of eligible international applicants depending on individual factors.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by the closing date of November 11, 2026, at 23:30. The hiring department notes that the position may close earlier than advertised if application volumes are high, though it will not close prior to the stated deadline. Applicants who are offered the post will undergo an enhanced check with barred lists for children and adult workforces by the Disclosure and Barring Service.