Career

House of Commons

Band / Grade  Other

Salary  See details in Guidance Notes for Applicants

Contract Type  Fellowship

Working Pattern  Part Time

Location  Hybrid (remote and on-site – Westminster, London)

Closing Date  9th August 2026 at 23:55

About this role:

We have an exciting opportunity for a researcher to take up a part-time fellowship as Thematic Research Lead on Infrastructure, Planning and Land Use, including Clean Energy Industries. The role is 0.6 FTE, for a period of 24 months. Applicants must already be employed on a substantive research contract which extends beyond March 2029 at an eligible organisation. Eligible organisations are universities, UKRI Institutes, Independent Research Organisations, and Catapult Centres that fall within the UKRI funding eligibility criteria.   

As a Thematic Research Lead (TRL), you will be an established researcher who will be embedded part-time in the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology to deliver the role. You will bring your expertise and experience of working with research evidence to the policy, research and analysis work that is carried out across Parliament.   

What you’ll be doing:

As a Thematic Research Lead, you will conduct three primary kinds of activities. However, specific responsibilities will be determined by context and priorities at the time.

1. You will offer strategic support for the production and delivery of research evidence and expertise for Parliament within the policy portfolio. This may include working with a range of parliamentary staff to: facilitate networking with the external research community; support with committee inquiry planning, identify witnesses, or offer technical advice; produce briefing materials; deliver training and seminars; or identify external experts.
2. You will engage in activities that support the development of the research, development and innovation ecosystem and encourage knowledge exchange between Parliament and the research community. This may include: building strong relationships with key research council staff and investments; engaging with external partners such as learned societies and national academies; and exchanging knowledge with government departments and staff in devolved legislatures.
3. You will also participate in the Thematic Research Lead network. Collectively, alongside other Thematic Research Leads, you will share insights and collaborate across policy areas.

This is a 0.6 FTE fellowship role, for 24 months, starting in April 2027.

In April 2027, we will require those in role to be present in Westminster for several days for cohort induction. However, we expect that most of the role can be delivered in a hybrid way and encourage applications from individuals wishing to work flexibly.  

Why take up this role?  

This role presents a unique opportunity for you to work closely with policy, research and analysis staff from across Parliament. It offers an exciting opportunity for you to see first-hand how research feeds into policy, through shaping parliamentary work with your research expertise and participating in core parliamentary processes.

You will be uniquely placed to build connections with parliamentary and government stakeholders to take forward through your career, and this participation will provide you with rich and varied experiences to support you on an upward professional trajectory. Current and previous postholders have reported that the role has contributed to advancement in their careers, including to professorial level.

Apply here