Postdoctoral Research Associate -Relational Harm Project - Social and Legal Studies

About us

The School of Security Studies at King‘s College London is dedicated to the understanding of security issues in an increasingly complex and uncertain world. Harnessing the depth and breadth of expertise across the War Studies and Defence Studies Departments, and the King’s Institute for Applied Security Studies, we are one of the largest multi-disciplinary communities of scholars in the world engaged in the teaching and research of all aspects of conflict, war, security and defence.

About the role

We welcome applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Social and Legal Studies to work on the project Relational Harm: Targeting the Family in War and Oppression. The PI is Dr Rebekka Friedman, and the project is an ERC-funded Consolidator Grant. The PDRA position is for 30-months from January 2026 and will be based in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.

The PDRA in Social and Legal Studies will contribute to the project’s conceptual pillars and to its field research. The PDRA in Social and Legal Studies will work on understanding evolving global judicial and non-judicial responses to forced separation and the removal of children from their families and communities. This will involve looking at the right to family and family life and how these protections are embedded into global practices. The PDRA will also study practices of family reunification, including the work of the ICRC.

Each PDRA will also oversee and conduct field research in one of the project’s contemporary case studies. PDRAs will use qualitative methods to conduct fieldwork, and to analyse and write up research outputs.

This will be one of several PDRA positions advertised for the project. Applicants are welcome to apply to more than one position if they meet the application criteria. In this case, they should apply to the other advert separately and focus their applications on that post’s selection criteria.

The Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy and its constituent Schools and Departments together support a culture of diversity and inclusion for our staff and students.

Applications from overseas applicants are welcome – however, the successful candidate will be expected to reside in the UK and visa sponsorship is available

This is a full-time post, and you will be offered a fixed-term contract from January 2026 for 2.5 years.

About You

Essential criteria

• A PhD in social and legal studies, transitional justice, international law, or legal institutions. Applicants from the arts and humanities will also be considered provided that their PhD research focuses on the topics above.
• Skills and experience in qualitative research methods.
• Research experience and knowledge in either South Asia or South America. An interest in historical, cultural and socio-political contexts.
• A proven capacity to write and present conference papers and publish peer reviewed articles.
• Field research experience.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with research ethics, particularly around trauma, and a commitment to socially impactful research.
• Attention to detail and strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good time management and organisational skills.

Desirable criteria

• Language skills in Tamil, Spanish or Rohingya.
• Website management skills.
• Archival research experience.
• Knowledge of any other research methods, e.g. documentary analysis; visual, participatory, and arts-based methods; ethnographic research; participant observation; and discourse and institutional analysis.
• Knowledge of data protection procedures.

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