Post-Doctoral Researcher

We are looking for a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher to join an enthusiastic, multidisciplinary research team based at the University of Oxford Department of Education and working with UCL’s Institute of Education to carry out research for an externally-funded project ‘A portrait of the teaching of Empire, Migration and Belonging in English secondary schools’.

This is an exciting opportunity for a post-doctoral researcher to join a multi-method, cross-institutional research project working with a range of methodologies for the study of how the topics of Empire, Migration and belonging are taught in English schools. The overarching aim of this project is primarily focussed on supporting teachers with their teaching of the complex topics of empire, migration and belonging (E,M B).

You will contribute to reaching out to relevant stakeholders and experts and conducting interviews with them. You will participate in the discussion of methods and approaches to data collection and analysis in relation to the project as a whole. The key role is contributing to mapping the current scholarship and debates related to EMB using agreed approaches for extensive searches of secondary qualitative and quantitative data sources, secondary data analysis, and literature analysis

The post-holder will independently manage own workload and administrative activities and work closely with Dr Todd at Oxford and with the team of collaborators at UCL. This involves small scale project management as well as co-ordinating multiple aspects of work with other team members to meet deadlines.

You will work in collaboration with other team members, adapt existing methodologies, concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding of the ways that empire, migration and belonging are taught and understood in schools. You will assist investigators with preparation of manuscripts including conducting literature reviews and preparing bibliographies, preparing written summaries of research findings, blogs, managing reference library and databases.

There will be opportunities to write papers for peer-reviewed journals and to present papers at conferences and meetings including stakeholders such as teachers.

You will hold (or be expected shortly to obtain) a PhD qualification, together with relevant research experience, and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within the tight project timeline and requirements. As this is a multidisciplinary project, the successful candidate could have a background in any number of cognate disciplines such as Education, History, Cultural Studies, Sociology,. An interest and knowledge of UK Educational policy is beneficial.

Good interpersonal, IT and organisational skills are essential, as is the ability to liaise with various agencies and research teams, to work independently as well as part of the wider team.

This position is part time (0.25 FTE /9.37  hours per week) on a fixed term basis until 30 April 2025.

Application Process 

Any questions regarding the post can be sent via email to Dr Jason Todd [email protected]

Applications for this vacancy should be made online and you will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your application. Applicants are asked to organise the supporting statement by subheadings, explaining how they meet the essential and desirable criteria for this post.

Only applications received by midday on 14 November 2023 will be considered. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter.