Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads
Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads 2027 – 2029: Call open!
We are pleased to announce the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) will continue to collaborate with UKRI to place a third cohort of Thematic Research Leads in UK Parliament from April 2027 to March 2029.
We are looking to appoint TRLs to the following areas:
- AI, Digital and Technology
- National Security and Resilience
- Infrastructure, Planning and Land Use, including Clean Energy Industries
- Health and Life Sciences
- Education, Children and Young People
- Criminal Justice
- Place-Based Economic Growth
To find out more and apply for a role, click on the hyperlinks above.
Please consult the Application Questions (pdf, 264KB), Guidance Notes (pdf, 640KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (pdf, 354KB) before applying.
Applications close on 11:55pm, Sunday 9 August 2026
An information session about the role will be held on Thursday 18 June from 1pm to 2.30pm. Please use this link to sign up to the information session.
What are Thematic Research Leads
Thematic Research Leads are researchers embedded three days a week in Parliament, whilst retaining their substantive academic post for the remaining time. They are based in policy-relevant teams in Parliament and operate in a network facilitated by POST’s Knowledge Exchange Unit.
The purpose of the Thematic Research Lead is to facilitate and enhance the use of research evidence and expertise in Parliament (in both the House of Commons and House of Lords) through effective knowledge exchange, collaboration and processes.
Each TRL leads on a specific policy area. To achieve this, TRLs conduct three primary activities:
- strategic support for the production and delivery of research evidence for Parliament, within a broad policy area
- support to develop a research and innovation landscape that facilitates and encourages knowledge exchange between Parliament and the research community
- participation in a network of Thematic Research Leads to share intelligence and insights across policy areas.
Thematic Research Leads 2024 – 2026
Seven researchers form Parliament’s 2024 - 2026 cohort of Thematic Research Leads:
- AI and Digital – Professor Varuna De Silva, Loughborough University
- Arts and Humanities – Professor Helen McCabe, University of Nottingham
- Business, Economics and Trade – Dr Jane Parry, University of Southampton
- Crime and Justice – Professor Ruth Lamont, University of Manchester
- Health – Dr David Strain, University of Exeter
- International Affairs and National Security – Dr Leslie-Anne Duvic-Paoli, King's College London
- Transport – Professor Louise Reardon, University of Birmingham
Thematic Research Leads 2023 – 2024
Three researchers formed Parliament’s 2023 – 2024 cohort of Thematic Research Leads. Select the links to find out more about their roles as TRLs:
- Professor Tamsin Edwards, Thematic Research Lead on Climate and Environment (and Professor in Climate Change, King's College London)
- Professor Kristen A Harkness, Thematic Research Lead on International Affairs and National Security (and Professor and Director of the Institute for the Study of War and Strategy, University of St Andrews)
- Professor Rick Whitaker, Thematic Research Lead on Parliament, Public Administration and Constitution (and Professor in Politics, University of Leicester)