Senior Researcher - Polling

Team: Sciences

Prolific

Prolific isnt just powering AI developmentwere redefining it. While foundational AI technologies are becoming commoditized Polifics human data infrastructure delivers the high-quality diverse data needed to differentiate the next generation of AI models. Through our platform we empower researchers and companies to access a global pool of participants ensuring cutting-edge AI research and training grounded in ethical and inclusive practices.

The role

Prolific is a BPC-accredited pollster with an established polling operation in the UK and 2026 we are looking to take that function to the next level. Were hiring a Senior Researcher in public opinion and polling to work with our sciences lead on building this function into a core element of our business turning it into something with real visibility innovation and impact.

In the role youll be designing and running our polling programme acting as a spokesperson for our research innovating on polling methodology with cutting-edge techniques and helping to position Prolific in industry conversations about methodology and data quality. Youll sit within the Research Sciences team reporting to the functions lead researcher. While building this function will be your primary focus youll also contribute to broader research initiatives across the sciences team and organisation. Our research agenda spans data quality representativeness synthetic data and methodological innovation if youre someone who also wants to work on hard problems beyond polling theres plenty of scope here.

What youll be doing

• Designing and executing polling and public opinion programmes: methodology development questionnaire design sampling strategy weighting approaches and data collection oversight
• Innovating on polling methodology: tackling hard problems testing new sampling and data approaches exploring synthetic data augmentation and validating methods against real-world outcomes.
• Analysing and reporting: producing clear compelling reports for internal teams external partners and media audiences
• Acting as a public face for Prolifics research: serving as one of our media liaisons for polling releases providing expert commentary and representing Prolific at industry events
• Building our polling infrastructure: collaborating with Marketing and Design teams to create data visualisations and develop a centralised polling hub
• Managing external relationships: working with PR partners our marketing team and cultivating media contacts to maximise the reach and impact of our work
• Contributing to wider research projects: applying your research expertise to other initiatives within the sciences team. Our current agenda includes evaluation of synthetic data approaches data quality and representativeness research and external research collaborations. Were looking for someone who wants to shape this agenda not just execute on polling.

Who were looking for

• Masters degree or higher in political science survey methodology statistics or a related quantitative field
• Strong technical knowledge of polling methodologies raking post-stratification MRP including when to apply them and the ability to implement them in code
• 2 years experience delivering public opinion research outside of academia (i.e. youve shipped polls that people have actually seen)
• An ideas-focused thinker who is able to tackle novel methods and innovative concepts head on
• Familiarity with the practicalities of online panel research including the trade-offs involved in non-probability sampling
• A solid understanding of the UK and US polling landscape (and ideally beyond)
• Comfortable operating autonomously and building something from the ground up
• Confident communicator who can translate complex methodology for non-technical audiences
• Genuine curiosity about research beyond polling. Youre excited by questions around data quality representativeness and the future of online research

Nice to have:

• Research interest in adjacent questions around data quality synthetic data or representativeness
• Experience working with BPC AAPOR or similar professional organisations
• Track record of publishing methodology pieces thought leadership or public-facing analysis
• Experience as a media spokesperson or comfort with on-the-record commentary

Why Prolific is a great place to work

At Prolific youll have the chance to shape the future of human-AI collaboration by empowering participants to contribute to cutting-edge AI research and training. Youll work in a fast-paced purpose-driven environment that values impact inclusion and innovation.

We offer competitive compensation benefits and flexible remote working options. Be part of a team thats pioneering a responsible AI landscape ensuring that the technology of tomorrow understands and respects the full spectrum of human experience.

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