Postdoctoral Research Associate

Part-Time, Fixed-Term (12 months)

Applications are invited for the part-time post of Postdoctoral Research Associate tenable for one year in the Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance. The successful applicant will play a leading curatorial and research role in the implementation and analysis of artist-led initiatives for the multi-country research project, CoastARTS, led by Professor Helen Gilbert and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in collaboration with national councils in Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Norway. The project runs until early 2028 and investigates the potential role of performance-based arts in understanding how coastal communities learn about and respond to ecological crises.

Applicants should have a PhD in Cultural Geography, Environmental Arts or a closely related field; knowledge of current climate- and ocean-related scholarship in the Blue Humanities; a track record of innovative scholarship and professional practice that applies postcolonial and/or decolonial perspectives to the study and curation of contemporary arts; and experience in working with artists from Indigenous or other marginalised communities. The ideal candidate will have strong teamwork and organisational skills and be broadly familiar with environmental arts initiatives in the UK museum and gallery sectors. Fluent English is required along with some proficiency in German and/or French.

The postholder will join an internationally oriented team of scholars and cultural sector partners mobilising archival, ethnographic and practice-led research to execute the CoastARTS project. Key tasks of this post include:

• Analysing the polar collection of the National Maritime Museum (NMM) and developing, in consultation with the museum’s curators and the CoastARTS project leader, a specific brief for a two-month artist-in-residence project to be undertaken in 2026.
• Leading the implementation, curation and evaluation of the above-described residency at the NMM, in liaison with research and cultural sector stakeholders.
• Co/producing reports and in-progress blogs and A-V outputs recording the artist residency.
• Assisting with planning, implementation and evaluation of a second artist residency to be co-hosted by CoastARTS and the interdisciplinary arts company Border Crossings (based in London and Ireland).
• Publishing as lead researcher at least one peer-reviewed essay drawn from the CoastARTS project work and aligning with its aims and objectives.
• Contributing to one or more of the CoastARTS team’s joint publications or collaborative outputs, which include a short book on creative and curatorial methods, a digital festival and a digital archive.
• Assisting the Project Leader with management and administrative tasks, including creating website and social media content.

The successful candidate will be offered a competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing.
• Free parking

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the University is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London.

For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Royal Holloway is committed to equality and diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community.

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