UCI Researcher in the Future of Knowledge Exchange Data, Metrics and Performance Measurement

Focus: Future of University Knowledge Exchange Data, Metrics and Performance Measurement

Location: Cambridge, UK

Contract term: The funds for this post are available until 31st March 2025 in the first instance, with potential for extension subject to further funding

Salary Ranges: Research Assistant: £28,929- £33,348; Research Associate: £35,308- £43,155

Closing date: 3rd July 2023

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Research England – the English universities funding body and major funder of knowledge exchange (KE) – recently announced a major strategic ambition to develop its national capability for delivering high quality KE data, metrics and evidence able to better inform government policy and university practice in the future. This reflects growing interest around the world on improving KE metrics and evidence to inform strategic decision-making on where and how to invest to deliver increased value through KE.

In March 2023, Research England commissioned UCI to help deliver its ambitions in this area.

About the role

We are now looking for an outstanding individual to join our expanding team to deliver our new work programme to explore what the future of KE data, metrics and performance measurement could look like.

Working closely with Research England, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA, part of Jisc), the outcomes of this work will influence what and how data is collected across the English university system in the future to better capture, measure and demonstrate the health, performance and value of KE.

The work programme will likely include, among other things:

• Engaging a community around developing better national-level KE data and metrics
• Developing and validating a prototype KE data collection and metrics framework, building on sound conceptual underpinnings, able to guide the search for new data and metrics, development of new data collection exercises, and inform policy development in this area.
• Proposing data quality and interface standards to govern national data collection efforts and enable the interoperability / integration of different data sources.
• Using the prototype framework to review the potential for existing data sources to deliver tangible advances in our ability to capture, measure and demonstrate the health and performance of the KE system, and identify potential opportunities for new data collection efforts.

The project is part of Research England’s investments in UCI to support the development of its national capability as a centre for evidence, metrics, and data relevant to knowledge exchange performance, particularly commercialisation and impact.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate will:

• Have a PhD (or be close to obtaining one) in a relevant discipline, or have equivalent experience
• Have knowledge and experience of developing data-driven frameworks, metrics and analyses to inform decision-making
• Have some university knowledge exchange, entrepreneurial & innovation systems, innovation concepts and processes, science & innovation policy (desirable but not essential)
• Demonstrate a strong motivation and interest in improving evidence to inform KE policy and practice
• Have excellent written skills and be able to communicate complex concepts to non-technical audiences
• Be able to work both independently and as part of a team

Further information and to apply

For full details and how to apply, please visit the University of Cambridge Job Opportunities page.

For an informal discussion about the roles, please contact Tomas Ulrichsen (tc267@cam.ac.uk). For details about the application process, please contact Geraldine Guceri (gcg22@cam.ac.uk).