Research Officer

Department of Education, University of Oxford. 15 Norham Gardens, Oxford, OX2 6PY

We are seeking a Researcher to join our team in the Department of Education and support an exciting study identifying the practices used by early educators to foster children’s communication, language, and literacy skills. Reporting to Dr Sandra Mathers, you will work as part of a collaborative research group responsible for delivering high-quality research to strengthen the Education Endowment Foundation’s Early Years Evidence Store.

The role involves managing your own research and administrative activities, engaging in project planning, and helping shape evidence-based updates to language and literacy taxonomies.

• Adapt and develop research methodologies, overseeing arrangements for data collection and leading the recruitment of early years settings.
• Conduct mixed-methods fieldwork, including systematic observations and educator interviews, requiring some national travel.
• Gather, analyse and present qualitative and quantitative data, prepare written outputs for publication, and organise project meetings.
• Support day-to-day project administration and represent the research group externally.

• Relevant PhD/DPhil (or close to completion) and relevant experience.
• Specialist knowledge to contribute effectively within established research programmes.
• Highly effective organisational skills and the ability to manage own academic research tasks.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to write publishable text and present findings.
• Ability to handle confidential data in line with established agreements and policies.

Fixed term, full time basis until 30 June 2027.