Research Associate - Digital Assets (Fixed Term)

About the role

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), based at Cambridge Judge Business School, is seeking a Research Associate to deliver rigorous, policy-relevant research on digital assets and decentralised finance (DeFi). The post holder investigates the functioning, stability and risks of blockchain-based financial systems, including asset tokenisation, smart contracts and DeFi protocols, alongside their economic and regulatory implications. The role is full-time, fixed term for 12 months, based in Cambridge.

Key responsibilities

• Develop objectives and proposals for individual and collaborative research within CCAF's digital assets programme.
• Investigate the adoption, stability and risks of digital assets and DeFi, and use quantitative and computational methods to examine market behaviour, value flows and protocol interdependencies.
• Analyse smart contracts and protocol design, and collect, process and evaluate blockchain data.
• Contribute to research tools such as the Cambridge DeFi Navigator, and produce publications, reports and policy briefs accessible to regulators, policymakers and industry.
• Document methods and data sources, and support research proposals and funding applications.
• May supervise student projects, advise junior researchers, give seminars and help build training materials for regulators and policymakers.
• Maintain contacts with researchers, data providers, industry and regulators, and take part in conferences and networks.

Required profile

• PhD in Computer Science, Finance, Economics or a closely related quantitative discipline.
• Research experience in digital assets or DeFi, with knowledge of blockchain technology, smart contracts and protocols.
• Ability to evaluate research critically, communicate complex findings clearly and work collaboratively to meet deadlines.

Required skills

• Quantitative or computational research methods, with programming and data analysis skills.
• Desirable: agent-based modelling or financial market simulation, experience analysing blockchain transactions or smart contract code, and experience building dashboards or interactive research tools.

What we offer

• Salary of £37,694 to £46,049.
• Hybrid working policy, generous holiday allowance and defined-benefit pension schemes.
• Flexible working options, family-friendly initiatives, career development and support for health and wellbeing.

Applications close on 10 November 2026; candidates apply online quoting reference NS51510.