Research Associate: Data Governance

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You will be part of a team working at the cutting-edge where advanced analytics meets cybersecurity. We will be creating tools for assessing and managing the vulnerability of research outputs (including AI) produced from sensitive data to subsequent attacks that might disclose individuals’ confidential data.

You will be contributing to a key part of success by liaising with different stakeholder groups to capture their views and needs, and ensure they are taken into account. This may involve significant amounts of travel both within the UK, and possibly internationally. This co-design process is critical to our project goals of making these tools usable, adoptable, and trustworthy.

Your role will include:

1. Conducting research with a range of stakeholders and collaborators as part of the research team’s co-design process, to ensure that research outcomes meet the objectives of the project.
2. Acting as a point of contact: as necessary liaising between external stakeholders/adopters and the project staff to capture and resolve ‘blocks to adoption’.
3. Analysing your findings to identify causes of ‘blocks’ - whether technical, (mis)-perceptions or communication - and how they can be resolved and avoided in future.

This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with leading academics, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. With access to state-of-the-art research facilities, you will contribute to high-quality publications, shape national policy discourse, and explore innovative approaches to privacy risk management. You will be encouraged to develop wider expertise in the governance and management of confidential data, as part of the DRAGoN team.

This is a rare chance to advance your research career while making a tangible impact on unlocking the potential of data and advanced analytics.

About you

We’re looking for dynamic researchers with the ambition to deliver research that matters. You will be passionate about the social good that can be unlocked from research on sensitive data, but respectful of people’s concerns about privacy, and the need to ensure inclusive benefits for all.

You will hold (or be close to completing) a Master’s degree.

You thrive in collaborative environments and have the communication skills to work with a diverse range of stakeholders. Experience in a range of research methods, and the confidence to select appropriate techniques is essential. An understanding of secure data environments would be desirable.

Where is this role based?

This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed.

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in Bristol, one of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking cities, we are regionally embedded and globally connected, with an established network of employer and academic partners.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including progressive pay rates, generous annual leave and career average pension schemes as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.

We are proud to be part of a vibrant, multicultural city that celebrates diversity. We’re always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our growing community and find yourself in a stimulating and supportive environment where you’ll thrive.

We particularly encourage applications from global majority and female candidates as we are currently under-represented in this area of the organisation; however, all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

As a Disability Confident employer, we welcome applications from those who identify as having a disability.

Further information

If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role please contact Professor Jim Smith on or email: .

This is a full-time, fixed-term post until 31st March 2027.

This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part-time.

UWE Bristol is a campus-based University, and it is vital to our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus-based for at least 20 percent of your time, with the opportunity to work from home on the remaining days. As noted above, this role may require you to travel within the UK, and possibly internationally, for meetings with project partners and to visit key stakeholders.

Right to Work in the UK

The University has a legal responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. You will therefore be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK; please refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist for information on which documents are acceptable.

Please note that UWE Bristol does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.

Advice to applicants

We’d love to hear from you - if you are excited about joining us at UWE, please complete our application form as soon as possible.

Tell us about how your skills and experience relate to the requirements of this role by describing how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the Job Description, and include specific examples wherever possible.

Once we have completed shortlisting, we will let you know the outcome of your application by email, so please check your inbox for updates.

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