At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead research on anti-autocratic movements and analyse multi-country datasets.
- Company: Join the University of Sussex's innovative NEWREPUBLIC project.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for academic growth.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive environment with strong support for career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in political research and shape future academic discussions.
- Qualifications: PhD in political science and expertise in African politics required.
The predicted salary is between 38784 - 38784 £ per year.
Location: Brighton, UK
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours. Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).
Grade: 7 starting at £38,784 per annum, pro rata if part time.
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
About the role:
NEWREPUBLIC is a €1.5 million research project funded by the European Research Council. It asks: what ideas animate anti-autocratic movements in Africa? You will play a central role in that project alongside the principal investigator, another research fellow, a PhD student and a communication officer. You will co-lead the project's content analysis. You will generate and analyse a large multi-country dataset of movement speech. In parallel, you will undertake your own autonomous research project on the ideas of anti-autocratic movements in Africa, which will extend, enrich or complicate the foundational ideas of NEWREPUBLIC. Altogether, you will coauthor at least three articles for publication in respected peer-reviewed journals. More widely, you will be pivotal to the success of NEWREPUBLIC. You will present at conferences, contribute to international dissemination and feed into follow-on funding applications. The role is intended to set you up for a career in academia.
The ideal candidate will want to put the animating ideas of anti-autocratic movements at the heart of their research agenda, for the duration of the project, and for years to come. You will be fluent (to at least C1 level) in a language spoken in Africa, other than English. It would be particularly advantageous if you were fluent in French, Portuguese, Luganda, or Swahili.
Qualifications and Experience:
- A PhD in political science or a closely related subject
- A record of publications in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with career stage.
- Expertise in autocratic politics and/or democratic struggle in Africa.
- Expertise in methodologies of rule-bound content analysis of text.
- Expertise in the analysis of ideology, discourse, performance or another lens onto meaning-making.
- An excellent proposal for an independent research project to extend, enrich or complicate the foundational ideas of NEWREPUBLIC (no more than 1,000 words, excluding references).
It would be advantageous if you had:
- Expertise in the politics of francophone, lusophone, or eastern Africa
- Experience in management, supervision, or quality-control within or beyond the academy.
- Experience of public engagement, for example in op-eds, policy briefs, or public seminars.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Visa Sponsorship:
This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsorship if full time and appointed at Grade 7.4. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship. The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
Contact:
Please contact NEWREPUBLIC principal investigator, Dr. Dan Paget, at d.paget@sussex.ac.uk for informal enquiries.
Expected Start Date: January 2027 or earlier, subject to discussion
Fixed Term Contract Duration: Fixed term until 30 September 2028
Research Fellow in the Ideas of Anti-Autocratic Movements in Brighton employer: Brighton and Sussex Medical School
The University of Sussex is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that fosters academic excellence and innovation. As a Research Fellow in the Ideas of Anti-Autocratic Movements, you will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful research while collaborating with a diverse team of experts. With a commitment to employee growth, flexible working options, and a supportive environment, Sussex is dedicated to empowering its staff to thrive both personally and professionally.
Contact Details:
Brighton and Sussex Medical School Recruitment Team
