Postdoctoral Researcher

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the School of Psychological Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London.

The successful candidate will be part of the newly established policy research centre, a consortium of interdisciplinary experts from neuroscience, psychology, learning sciences, computer science, AI and machine learning, genetics and educational research.

The post is a fixed term 22 month contract. It is shared with 50% appointment at Birkbeck, and 50% appointment at University of East Anglia (UEA) for a combined full-time appointment across both positions.

The new centre is being led by UCL, in partnership with Birkbeck and includes the following consortium partners: University of East Anglia, University of Surrey, Aston University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol and University of East London.

The aim of the centre is to synthesise and translate the latest research related to educational neuroscience into policy and practice to ensure everyone – workforce and children/ young people – meets their potential.

The new centre comprises 6 Strands of work. The successful candidate will join Strand 3, AI and New Technologies. This strand will examine the usage and possible beneficial or detrimental impacts of AI-enhanced technologies on education in the home, classroom and broader environments.

Specifically, we will conduct a mapping and taxonomy exercise to classify the range of technologies available to the public, and we will review the impacts of these technologies on a range of different individuals aged from 1 to 21 years. 

You will be part of a strong team of experts who are at the forefront of educational neuroscience and AI in education. The breadth of expertise within the centre creates an efficient and powerful research environment equipped to address complex questions in educational neuroscience and to strengthen pathways to impact and rapid translation of research into practice. 

Strand 3 is led by Profs Mareschal Spencer, and Porayska-Pomsta who are experts in AI, Machine Learning and learning in children.

The post holder will join the Centre for Brain Cognitive Development and the Centre for Educational Neuroscience at Birkbeck, both active and productive research communities conducting cutting edge work on a large range of topics in child development and educational neuroscience.

This opportunity would build on experience as: Policy advisor, Education Researcher, Education Technology Researcher. 

Contract

The post is a fixed term 22 month contract. It is shared with 50% appointment at Birkbeck (17.5 hrs), and 50% appointment at University of East Anglia (UEA), (17.5 hrs) for a combined full-time appointment across both positions (35 hours a week). An enhanced DBS check is required. Closing date: Monday 18 May, interview date is Tuesday 26 May 2026. Please apply via the UEA vacancies site. 

Salary and benefits

Actual £22,124 rising to £25,190 per annum 0.5 FTE, (pro-rated £44,247 rising to £50,379 per annum FTE), Grade 7 which includes a consolidated Weighting/Allowance which applies only to staff whose normal contractual place of work is in the London area.

Benefits of working at Birkbeck: a competitive salary and pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, flexible working arrangements, generous benefits in the HE sector, and being located in Euston, London.

Enquiries

If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Prof. Denis Mareschal, Director of CBCD, at d.mareschal@bbk.ac.uk

If you have technical issues or difficulties using the recruitment portal, please contact jobs@bbk.ac.uk providing your name and the job reference number of the position. While we are happy to respond to all informal enquiries, only formal applications through the online system will be considered.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community. The College is committed to improving the gender and cultural diversity of its workforce, holding a bronze Athena SWAN award and operating Disability Confident & Mindful Employer schemes.