Join the World-Leading WorldPop Team as a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton – Earn Up to £58,225!

If you are passionate about data science, geospatial analytics, and using research to solve real-world global challenges, this is your chance to step into a high-impact academic role. The is hiring a Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow to join its internationally renowned WorldPop Group within the Population, Health & Wellbeing division.

This full-time, fixed-term position runs until 31 August 2027, offering an attractive annual salary ranging from £36,636 to £58,225, depending on experience. The application deadline is 18 March 2026.

About the University and WorldPop

The University of Southampton is globally recognised for its research excellence and innovation. Within the institution, the WorldPop Group is an award-winning research team producing high-resolution population distribution and demographic datasets used worldwide.

WorldPop’s work supports governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and development partners by delivering accurate spatial demographic data that informs:

• Public health planning
• Disaster response
• Infrastructure development
• Climate resilience strategies
• Sustainable development policies

This is not just a research role — it is an opportunity to contribute to global progress through advanced data science.

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The Role: Advancing Population Modelling

The successful candidate will focus on improving small-area human population estimates through the development and application of advanced quantitative and statistical methods.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working with large-scale gridded geospatial datasets
• Designing data processing pipelines for complex spatial data
• Integrating new datasets into WorldPop’s modelling workflows
• Producing high-resolution national, regional, and global population estimates

The role also explores innovative approaches using:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Building footprint data
• Satellite imagery
• Mobile phone and geo-embedded datasets
• Social media-derived spatial data

This position sits at the intersection of AI, geospatial science, global health, and development research — ideal for researchers with strong quantitative skills and experience handling large datasets.

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Global Collaboration Opportunities

One of the most exciting aspects of this role is its strong international engagement. You will collaborate with:

• Governments
• UN agencies
• Technology companies
• Satellite imagery providers
• International academic partners

You’ll contribute to impactful applications of demographic data and present findings at national and international conferences. The role also supports high-quality academic publishing and offers opportunities to lead projects within the WorldPop portfolio.

For researchers looking to expand their global footprint and strengthen their publication record, this is a powerful platform.

Contract and Location Details

Here are the essential employment details:

• Position: Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow
• Location: Highfield Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom
• Salary: £36,636 – £58,225 per annum
• Contract: Full-time, fixed-term until 31 August 2027
• Application Deadline: 18 March 2026

This is an on-site role based in Southampton, offering access to world-class facilities and a vibrant academic community.

Benefits of Working at Southampton

The University of Southampton offers a competitive benefits package designed to support both professional growth and work-life balance. Benefits include:

• 30 days annual leave plus additional university closure days and public holidays
• Access to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension
• Subsidised health and fitness facilities
• Employee discounts and flexible working options

The university also maintains a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from under-represented groups in academia.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is ideal for candidates who:

• Have strong statistical and quantitative expertise
• Possess experience with large-scale geospatial or spatial modelling datasets
• Are interested in AI-driven population modelling
• Want to contribute to global development through research
• Are seeking international collaboration and leadership opportunities

Whether you are an early-career researcher ready to step into a Research Fellow role or an experienced academic aiming for a Senior Research Fellow position, this vacancy offers space for growth and leadership.

Why This Role Stands Out

Accurate population data is fundamental to pandemic preparedness, disaster response, climate adaptation, and equitable resource distribution. By joining WorldPop at the University of Southampton, you will directly contribute to data that informs policy decisions worldwide.

This position uniquely combines:

• Advanced computational and AI methods
• Real-world global impact
• Academic publishing opportunities
• International partnerships
• Competitive UK academic salary

It is a rare blend of technical depth and global relevance.

Final Thoughts

The Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow opportunity at the University of Southampton is more than a fixed-term academic contract — it is a chance to shape the future of global population data science.

With competitive pay, strong institutional support, and meaningful international collaboration, this role is ideal for ambitious researchers ready to make a measurable global impact.