The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
Research Associate - Python Coding
The main purpose of this role is to provide Python coding and data research support to maintain and develop a microsimulation model that simulates the effects of the tax and benefit system on the UK population.
The IPPR Tax-Benefit Model is used by think tanks across the country to analyse the effects of government policy, design their own policies and to forecast the distribution of income. Each month, users agree development priorities for the model, including new functionality and data updates. The postholder will work closely with Professor Ashwin Kumar, who leads the IPPR Tax-Benefit Model project, to deliver coding changes and data research to meet user requirements.
The postholder will also be the first point of call for user queries and will need to identify, diagnose and fix potential errors in the model, or provide users with advice about how to use the model effectively.
The postholder will need to be a proficient Python coder. Knowledge of Pandas and wxPython, and of the UK tax and benefit system would be an advantage, as would knowledge of Stata.
They should be organised and capable of managing their own work and capable of carrying out data research independently.
Dates: Monday 19 January 2026 - Friday 31 July 2026
Hours: 16 hours per week to be worked over two days each week
Location: Hybrid: Mondays on campus plus one other day optionally at home or on campus
Key Tasks
Research Activities
- Undertake coding in Python to maintain and develop a tax-benefit microsimulation model using Python.
- Carry out data research using Stata to analyse major national surveys such as the Family Resources Survey, Living Costs and Food Survey as necessary.
- Provide diagnosis of user queries and errors, researching and testing potential issues with the model.
- Deliver quality assurance processes to ensure that modelling is of the highest quality such that it can be used in high-profile political and media debates.
- Carry out data research so that the model uses up-to-date data and forecasts on the economy and tax and benefit system.
- Plan and prioritise own day to day work and resources to achieve agreed objectives
Service Provision
- Manage the team’s relationship with model users, and be responsible for meeting their needs, and acting on feedback, in order to ensure that research delivers against their requirements.
- Collaborate with senior academic staff to organise, manage and carry out appropriate research.
- Respond to enquiries and requests for support from users of tax-benefit microsimulation modelling when required.
Miscellaneous
You have a legal duty, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or anyone else by your acts or omissions. In addition, you must cooperate with the University on health and safety matters and must not interfere or misuse anything provided for health, safety and welfare purposes.
You are responsible for applying the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy in your own area of responsibility and in your general conduct.
You have a responsibility to promote high levels of customer care within your own areas of work.
Such other relevant duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the Manager in agreement with you. Such agreement should not be unreasonably withheld.
You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to Environmental Sustainability in order to reduce its waste, energy consumption and carbon footprint.
You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to delivering value for money services that optimise the use of resources and therefore should consider this when undertaking all duties and aspects of your role.