Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The opportunity

University of the Arts London (UAL) is seeking to appoint a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) to work on a research project entitled ‘Cold War and ‘Other’ Narratives’, led by Principal Investigator Professor Mark Sealy in collaboration with IWM (Imperial War Museums) London.

This fellowship will pave the way to grow an ambitious and impactful programme of joint research and knowledge exchange activity between the college and the museum.

The critical research tasks are to investigate and examine through the archives of the IWM, the diverse or buried stories that have impacted independence movements throughout the West’s colonial territories. Using the Cold War as a dominant narrative, the research process aims to perform forensic work on the ideological perspectives that influenced and shaped the majority world’s move to independence. In understanding our contemporary global political climate, we must continuously examine how East/West relationships post-Second World War concerning the pre-post-colonial eras have shaped our world, and critically investigate how images produced within the context of Cold War politics have framed and shaped the making of Allies and constructed ‘Others’. The project aims to present a different or alternative visual framework to create a new understanding concerning processes of liberation across the colonised world, and how images have been articulated, framed and put to work in cultures that have aided the construction of a dominant narrative concerning post-colonial political formations.

About You

You will have:

• Experience conducting postgraduate (doctoral) research

• A postgraduate research degree (PhD) in a relevant subject area (essential)

• An awareness of and interest in the challenges and opportunities of working collaboratively (desirable)

• Knowledge commensurate with the scope of the research project – Cold War histories, decolonisation, visual culture, photography, archival research etc. (essential)

• An interest in public history in the context of heritage and the museum sector (desirable)

• Specialist research expertise and a proven ability to co-ordinate and manage research tasks (essential)

• Proven ability to work independently and to prioritise your workload

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. UAL is home to a diverse body of over 6,000 academic, professional and technical staff who support more than 21,000 students from 130 countries.

To apply please click the 'Apply' button above.

If you have any queries about this role or need any reasonable adjustments for your application, please contact Lesley Wilkins, Senior Resourcing Adviser, lcc.jobs@lcc.arts.ac.uk or telephone: 02075147985.

UAL is committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments for all staff and students to work and learn – a university where we can be ourselves and reach our full potential. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and Staff Support Networks. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and caring responsibility.

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