Job detail for Researcher (Public Participation)

The Ada Lovelace Institute is hiring a qualitative Researcher to support our research on the impacts of AI and data on people and society.

Working closely with our Public Participation Research Lead, this researcher will support our work on equity and inclusion in participatory and public attitudes, contributing to a dynamic research programme that is intrinsic to Ada’s mission to make data and AI work for everyone in society.

The Researcher will provide support for a range of multi-methods and mixed methods research projects, in close partnership with Public Participation and Research Practice directorate colleagues, civil society organisations, communities and publics, and collaborating with colleagues from Ada’s other Directorates. This will include stepping into supporting projects already underway, such as the BRAID-partnered recourse and repair or the coalition delivering the Citizens’ Track on AI in relation to the UN Global Dialogue, as well as helping to scope, design and deliver new research that looks deeply at how technologies are affecting people and communities across the UK.

One key area of responsibility will be the coordination of convenings, including the Ada Community Forum, to support field and network building. This role may also contribute to the development of qualitative or participatory research undertaken with colleagues in other Directorates.

We are looking for a researcher who has experience of researching with communities, and, ideally, someone who has worked in research environments outside academia. This may include people who have undertaken research as part of broader roles in charities, NGOs, civil society or other organisations, as well as those who have followed conventional research pathways.

The Researcher will have strong and demonstrable qualitative research experience, oral and written communication and organisational skills, and a strong interest in topics related to AI, data, and the social or ‘everyday’ impacts of technology.

We are interested in candidates who are familiar with a range of or methodologies, which may include forms of interview research, deliberative methods, or any techniques included under the participatory action research umbrella.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have grown their knowledge and experience through participatory practice, and who bring with them diverse forms of expertise and understanding.

You’ll enjoy working in a dynamic team environment, be willing to jump into projects and keen to explore new social domains and emerging technologies that you may not be familiar with. You’ll appreciate the importance of rigorous research and also want to think creatively about communicating and influencing in novel ways (including engaging with both technical communities and lay audiences).

This role is an excellent opportunity for a researcher in the early stages of their career to contribute to shaping emerging policy and practice around AI and data-driven technologies. Working with an team of researchers, social scientists, lawyers, policy experts and more, you will have the opportunity to contribute to research processes and outputs that are designed to deliver Ada's strategy and mission.

For further information about the role, please download the full job description (PDF).

About us

The Ada Lovelace Institute is an independent research institute funded and incubated by the Nuffield Foundation since 2018.

Our mission is to ensure data and artificial intelligence work for people and society. We do this by building evidence and fostering rigorous debate on how data and AI affect people and society. We recognise the power asymmetries that exist in ethical and legal debates around the development of data-driven technologies and seek to level those asymmetries by convening diverse voices and creating a shared understanding of the ethical issues arising from data and AI. Finally, we seek to define and inform good practice in the design and deployment of AI technologies.

The Institute has emerged as a leading independent voice on the ethical and societal impacts of data and AI. We have built relationships in the public, private and civil society sectors in the UK and internationally. Please find details of our work here.

Our research takes an interconnected approach to issues such as power, social justice, distributional impact and climate change (read our strategy to find out more), and our team have a wide range of expertise that cuts across policy, technology, academia, industry, law and human rights.

We value diversity in background, skills, perspectives and life experiences. As part of the Nuffield Foundation, we are a small team with the practical support of an established organisation that cares for its employees.

Further information and how to apply

The closing date for applications is 09:30am (BST) on Monday 19th October 2026. Interviews are then planned to take place on the 6th and/or 9th November 2026.

You will be required to complete some questions as part of this application process, and you are also required to upload an up-to-date copy of your CV. The Applied platform lets you save an application and resume it ahead of submitting before the application deadline.

Please note that for vacancies which receive a high volume of applications, we may undertake an initial screening of CVs.

If you have any questions about the role ahead of applying (or need to make an application in a different format), please email recruitment@.org and a member of the Nuffield Foundation’s HR team will respond to you.

All recruitment decisions are made by a person (we do not use AI tools to rate or reject applicants). Applicants may use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to prepare their application (for example to research our work). However, we ask applicants to respond to the questions using their own experience, thinking and opinion, writing in their own tone of voice and ensuring that they are representing themselves accurately and authentically. AI tools should not be used during the interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment.

Further guidance on applying for job vacancies with the Nuffield Foundation and its Centres can be found on our website here.

We are committed to inclusive working practices and during the application process we commit to:

• As a Disability Confident employer, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the essential criteria for the job

• making any reasonable adjustments – for example providing documents in different formats, arranging for a sign language interpreter for interviews etc

• reimbursing reasonable travel costs (and any childcare or care costs) for interviews where in-person attendance is required

Our benefits package includes:

• Genuine flexibility - we are open to requests for part-time hours, compressed working weeks, or job shares.

• 28 days holiday per annum and all public holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (prorated for part time staff).

• A salary exchange pension scheme that offers employer contributions of up to 11%.

• Life assurance scheme.

• Family leave policies that provide an enhanced level of pay.

• Cycle to work scheme, loans towards train season tickets and the option to make charitable donations via your pay.

• Regular opportunities for learning and development – including coaching, mentoring, and dedicated reading days for personal development and reflection.

• Support with your physical, mental and financial wellbeing including an employee assistance provider, a private GP service, personal health reviews with Bupa, a will and funeral planning service and a staff network of trained Mental Health First Aiders.

• A warm and welcoming workplace culture, with active peer groups and social networks to help you connect and belong.