Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.
We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a research project on housing inequality, based in the Lab of Interdisciplinary Spatial Analysis (LISA) in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge. This position is funded by the City University of Hong Kong and will be held at Cambridge. The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and Director of LISA, with a view to developing LISA's research capacity in spatial analysis of housing inequality.
The project includes completed and ongoing comparative correspondence tests on rental housing discrimination in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan. The Fellow will help to extend this work in two major directions. First, geographical coverage will be expanded to include developing countries, where housing discrimination remains under-studied but may constitute a significant barrier for marginalised groups seeking access to housing and labour markets. Second, the research will broaden beyond ethnicity to include multiple dimensions of exclusion, such as gender, age, and disability.
While spatial analysis and behavioural insights have been used to study urban inequalities, no systematic global effort currently exists to map and explain the diverse mechanisms of housing exclusion. Addressing this gap requires integrating geospatial analysis, explainable AI (XAI), and behavioural research methods, including but not limited to correspondence testing. The Fellow will also support the PI to develop a global collaborative platform to: (i) establish standards and protocols for comparative methods; (ii) assemble and coordinate a team of international researchers; and (iii) enable open sharing of data, evidence, and policy tools among researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations. The Fellow will also work with the PI to prepare major research funding proposals in the UK, EU, and international contexts, with the aim of building long-term institutional capacity in this area.
Candidates should have a PhD (submitted or nearly submitted at the time of application) in a field relevant to urban studies, housing policy, geography, sociology, behavioural science, or spatial data science, with a strong quantitative focus. Demonstrated interest in inequality, exclusion, and/or housing markets is essential. Experience in designing or analysing correspondence studies, geospatial methods, or ethical data sharing infrastructures is highly desirable.
The Fellow should demonstrate potential for producing high-quality research and a strong commitment to empirically grounded, quantitative, and interdisciplinary work. In addition to academic outputs, the successful candidate will be expected to play an active role in the development of collaborative research proposals, including those submitted to major international and national funders such as Horizon Europe, UKRI, and the ESRC. Strong communication and coordination skills are essential, as the role involves sustained engagement with a wide range of stakeholders¿including academic collaborators, policy makers, industry partners, and civil society organisations¿often within large, multi-institutional research consortia.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please upload the following:
- a full Curriculum Vitae including a list of publications
- a cover letter including a statement of your research, your relevant work experience and qualifications, and in general how your profile fits the position using no more than 1,500 words
- the contact details of two referees.
After shortlisting, where you have given permission, your nominated referees will be asked to provide a reference via the on-line system.
Informal queries about this position may be directed to Professor Helen Bao, Principal Investigator of the project and Director of LISA. [email protected].
Closing date is midnight on Wednesday 20th August 2025. Interviews will be held soon after the closing date.
Please quote reference JP46695 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a BAME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our department.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
