Research Assistant in Vulnerability Modelling

The UCL Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR) is an exciting cross-UCL department, which leads research, knowledge exchange and teaching in the fields of risk and disaster reduction and humanitarian action. The department is in the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MAPS), but works across all UCL's faculties, spanning natural and social sciences, mathematics and statistics, engineering and development planning, global health, anthropology, the humanities, ethics and laws, and contributes to UCL's Grand Challenges. It has a leading role in the UCL Humanitarian Institute. It is strongly international with developing partnerships with universities in China, Japan, South Asia, the Middle East and South-east Asia. Teaching. The RDR runs a PhD and MRes programmes in risk and disaster reduction, masters programmes in risk, disaster and resilience and risk and disaster science, and an undergraduate programme in global humanitarian studies, all with a diverse and cross-disciplinary international intake. We have about 35 PhD students, 80 masters students and 70 students per year in the BSc Global Humanitarian Studies programme. The majority of the RDR's students are international. The BSc has partners in the UCL Departments of Statistical Science and Anthropology, the Institutes for Global Health and Education and the School of Management. The BSc Global Humanitarian Studies educates and trains future generations of humanitarian leaders in the theory and practice of humanitarian action. A key offering of this programme is the commitment to use the department's extensive networks to facilitate an optional internship, in the UK or internationally, to help students connect their academic learning with skills in the humanitarian workplace. Our masters programmes meet the growing need for experts trained to analyse and provide solutions to complex issues. We enhance the partnerships our department has to embed student research projects in real world issues and offer valuable internships to enhance their training and career prospects. About the role The Research Assistant will contribute to the development of the OpenVulnerability platform. They will design and build a model search function for the platform and write accessible documentation for the. The work will include carrying out systematic testing of the function through a pilot exercise to ensure reliable performance. This work will form part of the key work for the UCL-funded project 'OpenVulnerability: Commercialising a Search and Retrieval Service for Natural Hazard Vulnerability Models'., The specific tasks involve:

• Designing a model search function including returning results partially matching to the required model criteria and attaching a relevance score for each result.
• Write clear, accessible documentation for the search function so that technical users of the platform can use it without needing direct assistance.
• Carry out systematic testing of the function through a pilot exercise to ensure reliable performance.
• Provide improvements in the backend of the platform's software, including a revision of the user access system, usage monitoring, and the ability to manage or revoke access.
General
• Follow and actively promote the UCL Ways of Working.
• Takes responsibility to carry out duties in a way that embodies UCL's environmental and social sustainability values, actively supporting UCL's Sustainability Strategy, policies and objectives within the remit of their role.
• Carry out any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager.
  
  The Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MAPS) is home to eight diverse departments that are highly rated for research excellence: Chemistry; Physics & Astronomy; Space & Climate Physics; Mathematics; Science & Technology Studies; Earth Sciences, Risk and Disaster Reduction and Statistical Science, and has numerous institutes and centres, including the London Centre for Nanotechnology and Institute for Materials Discovery. In addition, the Faculty has its own interdepartmental undergraduate degree programme: Natural Sciences.
Individual researchers and research groups within UCL play key leadership roles within major international projects (such as the LHC, Dark Energy Survey, Solar Orbiter, Euclid, Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), UK Catalysis Hub and many others). Faculty staff have been successful in attracting research income from the research councils, European FP7 and ERC, Royal Society, Leverhulme and other funding agencies. The Faculty prides itself on providing a rich and culturally diverse environment for students and staff alike. Departmental Context

What we offer As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are:
• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days per annum) per annum Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan Immigration loan Relocation scheme for certain posts On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance. To find out more, visit www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion We know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion Available documents