Research Associate (CGHR) (Fixed Term)

Department/Location: Department of Politics and International Studies, Cambridge 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance. 

The Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR), an inter-disciplinary research centre based in the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), is seeking to appoint a full-time postdoctoral researcher associate (RA) for a two-year period, starting in October 2025 to collaborate with CGHR Co-Director, Professor Sharath Srinivasan, on a new CGHR research theme, 'Communication Technology and Contentious Politics'. More specifically, the successful candidate will contribute research towards a foundational project on communication technology and contentious politics in global macro-historical perspective. 

CGHR thinks critically and innovatively to foster citizen voice and solidarity-building towards a just, inclusive and better world. Across the world, societies and polities face rapid transformations in technology, alongside upheavals in climate, health, conflict and global order, and demands to address historic and new injustices. Our challenge is to more sharply understand these dynamics and their implications, and to improve how research supports progressive change and those who drive it.  Academic research centres committed to praxis have a crucial role to play. At their best, they combine independence and freedom of thought, rigorous and innovative research, and patient and deep exchanges with practitioners. From over a decade of critical and collaborative praxis research, we have learnt that the crucial spaces for new thinking and action lie at intersections and in interactions between practice and scholarship, between disciplines, and between individuals and institutions across the world. 

The Research Associate will be an integral member of the CGHR team and will be expected to pursue collaborative research with Professor Srinivasan on the above-mentioned research project (60%) as well as to pursue independent research and writing (20%) and to work with the co-directors on convening scholar-practitioner events and networks related to technology, democracy and human right, and to supporting the Centre's work, including its student-facing activities (20%). 

Candidates should hold a PhD in a relevant social science or humanities discipline, and should have an excellent research record for their career stage. They should also have excellent communication skills and experience working in a team as well as independently. Past participation in strategic development of applied research is desirable. 

More information about CGHR can be found at: www.cghr.polis.cam.ac.uk 

Additional information on how to apply can be found on the Further Particulars document. 

We particularly encourage women and/or candidates from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background to apply for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level within our University. 

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the apply button above.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact hr@hsps.cam.ac.uk 

Informal enquiries may be directed to CGHR's Co-Director, Professor Sharath Srinivasan: ss919@cam.ac.uk 

Please quote reference UE46524 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. 

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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