University of Warwick
Research Assistant (CAGE) (111746-0626)
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Research Assistant (CAGE) (111746-0626)
Research Assistant (CAGE) – UK Housing and Planning System
About the Role
Informal Queries: For informal inquiries about the Research Assistant position, please contact Amrita Kulka (Assistant Professor) at Amrita.Kulka@warwick.ac.uk.
CAGE & The Project
The Centre for competitiveness and growth (CAGE) – an established research centre within the University of Warwick’s Department of Economics – has been awarded £7.1 million by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to continue its research programme for the next five years.
Thisproject focuses on the "UK Housing and Planning System", co-led by Dr Nikhil Datta and Dr Amrita Kulka (both assistant professors at Warwick Economics). The research aims to:
- Generate rigorous quantitative evidence on UK planning policies
- Develop policy recommendations
- Communicate findings to stakeholders, including policymakers, media, and civil society
Due to plummeting housing affordability in the UK, the overall project examines multiple dimensions of the housing and planning system, with sub-projects addressing specific policy questions.
The Research Assistant’s Role
As a Research Assistant, you will support Dr Datta and Dr Kulka in their work, undertaking quantitative analysis and contributing to research outputs.
Key responsibilities include:
- Administering the analysis of newly constructed planning data (e.g., planning documents, housing construction figures, search/data from housing platforms, credit card banking data, and other relevant datasets)
- Working with Large-Scale Datasets, including:
- Cleaning, validating, processing, and merging data from diverse sources
- Following quantitative rigor in research designs
- Collaborating on research publications, academic papers, policy briefs, and stakeholder presentations (tailored for authorships ranging from academic to policy-engaged audiences)
- Supporting the dissemination of findings to policy-makers, media, and civil society
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
This role offers preparation for doctoral studies in applied economics or a quantitative public policy career. It involves tangible analytical work and collaborative research learning.
About You
Qualifications & Experience
We seek a proactive, self-motivated individual with:
- A degree:
- Essential: A Master’s in Economics by the start date
- Exceptional cases only: A completed Bachelor’s degree in Economics may be considered
- Strong analytical aptitude, including:
- Competence with relevant data handling/statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, Python)
- Experience manipulating, subsampling, and assessing large datasets
- Ability to produce clear and policy-relevant findings
- Excellent communication skills, particularly bridging the gap between technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong writing skills for academic and non-academic publications
- Collaboration with senior research staff and teamwork
Personage Requirements
- Self-directed learner in quantitative methods
- Enjoys working on long-term research projects, fostering autonomy within a structured research team
- Policy interest: Connected to the UK housing/planning system
About the Department
The Department of Economics at the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution recognised for its:
- Top rankings in UK and European university league tables (currently 1st in the Good University Guide 2026)
- Research Excellence: 99% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REFramework 2021) and 2nd in the UK for economics
For further details: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/
About the University
Warwick is:
- A top-100 globally ranked university (#74 in THE World University Rankings 2026, #9 in the UK)
- Research-intensive: 92% of its research rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REFramework 2021)
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Explore the university further: warwick.ac.uk/about/
How to Apply
Closing Date: Sunday, 12 July 2026 at 11:55 PM (UK Time)
Application Process
Submit your application via: warwick-careers.tal.net Attachments required:
- CV
- Cover Letter, addressing:
- Employment and education history
- Clear evidence of how you meet the essential/desirable criteria in the job description (applications missing this key information may not be shortlisted)
Key Dates
- Interview Week: Begins 3 August 2026
- Start Date: 15 August 2026
- Coding Test: Week commencing 20 July 2026 (Selected candidates)
Further Notes
- Encouraged to disclose career breaks (e.g., parental leave, caring responsibilities)
- Complete the application before the deadline – the advert will close automatically at 11:55 PM.
- Guidance for cover letter formatting: [institution-provided link] (TBD)
Benefits & Working Life
Warwick offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Pension scheme
- Holidays: 26 days + Christmas break
- Flexible working and healthy work-life balance initiatives
- Supportive personnel policies
- Generous parental/adoption leave options
- On-site childcare facilities
- Commitment to the Living Wage
- Excellent development/career opportunities
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Explore Warwick’s commitments: University of Warwick: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Important Notice on Visa & Right to Work
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Please verify your legal right to work in the UK using official channels:
Benjamin Franklin// — Sharpness but clarity — & emphasis on rigor—
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills