Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Data Science

Job title: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Data Science

Department: Economics

Contract Type: Permanent

Grade: G8/Ac3 or G9/Ac4

Location: Bloomsbury, Camden, Greater London, United Kingdom

Hours: 35 hours per week

SOAS University of London is the leading Higher Education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East.  SOAS University of London is positioned to play a leading role in reimagining higher education globally, with a new strategic plan in place as the basis for the renewal and revitalisation of the School which commits SOAS to both student responsiveness and research intensity. SOAS is moving towards a new model of international partnerships which is responsive to the transnational character of our global challenges.

About the Role

The Department of Economics at SOAS University of London invites applications for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer post in Data Science. We seek an outstanding scholar with strong expertise in data science methods and their application to economics and other social sciences, including advanced machine learning methods, big data analytics, and programming.

About the Department

The Department of Economics at SOAS University of London is a leading centre for economic research, grounded in a rigorous tradition of political economy and development economics.  Our faculty advances scholarship on the defining challenges of our time — from socio-economic inequalities and the environmental crisis to structural transformation. We conduct world-leading research on financialisation, social reproduction, the political economy of food, informality, labour, the macrofinancial aspects of development, the political economy of institutions, corruption and the assessment of macroeconomic, social and industrial policies.

Our research shapes both scholarly debate and real-world policy. Faculty have led high-impact work on anti-corruption strategies, the greening of financial systems, the role of industrial policies for structural transformation and the socio-economic and environmental implications of industrialised livestock production. Through the Centre for Sustainable Finance and the Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation, the Department conducts world-leading research in collaboration with policy institutions and practitioners across the Global South and the Global North with a focus on social and environmental justice.

Our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes equip students with the quantitative rigour and qualitative depth demanded by an increasingly complex world. At a moment when artificial intelligence is reshaping our societies, we prepare economists not only to apply theories and tools, but to interrogate their assumptions and develop critical thinking.

About You

You will play a central role in the Department's recently launched MSc programmes in Data Science, AI and Sustainability, and Data Science and Economic Policy. You  will be expected to design and lead modules, develop innovative pedagogical approaches, and provide high-quality supervision and mentorship to postgraduate students.  You will also be expected to engage with administrative duties and the broader intellectual life of the Department, contributing to the Department's standing as one of the world's leading centres for heterodox economics and political economy.

Candidates who can bridge technical expertise with critical social science and pluralist economics perspectives are especially encouraged to apply.

What We Offer:

We are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to enhance your well-being and work-life balance:

• Generous Holiday Entitlement: Benefit from 44 days of holiday (30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and 5 closure days over Christmas and Easter) to ensure ample time for rest and relaxation.
• Flexible Working Arrangements: We recognise the importance of flexibility and offer options to help you manage your professional and personal commitments effectively.
• Generous occupational pension scheme: To provide financial security for your future
• Learning and Development: We are dedicated to your professional growth and development and offer diverse learning and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Health and Well-being Initiatives: Take advantage of our cycle to work scheme, eye tests, and season ticket loan to support your health and mobility.
• Enhanced Family Leave: We offer enhanced maternity, paternity & partner leave, and shared parental leave to support you during significant life events.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Access our confidential EAP for advice and support whenever needed.
• Discounted Gym Membership: Maintain your fitness with our discounted gym membership.

How to Apply: 

Please complete the online application form and upload your CV publications, and a supporting statement, addressing the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification (Please refer to Job Pack).

Please specify in your application (supporting statement or cover letter) if you are applying to either the Lecturer or Senior Lecture in Data Science role.

Closing date: 6th May 2026 at 11:59 p.m.                           

Interviews/presentations to be held: 26 & 27th May 2026

Further information

Please note that the application system does not currently have a save-and-return feature. To avoid losing any information, we strongly encourage you to complete and submit your application in one sitting. Make sure you have all necessary details ready before you begin.

Successful candidates will need to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK or have limited leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with SOAS, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.

If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact Dr. Yannis Dafermos (Head of Department), via email: yannis.dafermos@soas.ac.uk

If you have any questions or require any assistance with regard to the application process, please contact us via the HR Contact Form | SOAS

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