Research Associate - Analyzing Generational Differences in Attitudes to Immigration in Europe

Vacancy terms: Full-time, fixed term contract from 1 January 2026 till 31 December 2026

About the role

The School of History, Politics and International Relations at University of Leicester invites applications for a 12-month post-doctoral researcher. The researcher will work collaboratively with Professor Lauren McLaren (Politics, University of Leicester), Dr Deborah Gefang (School of Business, University of Leicester), and Professor Bobby Duffy (The Policy Institute, Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, King’s College London) on the ESRC-funded project, Analyzing Generational Differences in Attitudes to Immigration in Europe. The role will involve the collation, analysis and interpretation of cross-national public opinion surveys in order to understand the extent of generational/cohort differences in attitudes to immigration and potential causes of changes in immigration attitudes among different generations/cohorts. The role holder will also participate in the writing up of results and in the delivery of an impact-oriented Policy Lab to be held in London.

About you

You will have a PhD in Politics, Sociology, Economics, or other relevant Social Science programme. You will have a track record of use of advanced quantitative methods, including time-series cross-sectional and/or multi-level models, and a record of analysis of comparative public opinion data. You will ideally have experience working on the topic of public attitudes to immigration and writing for peer-reviewed scholarly publications (e.g., journals).

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Lauren McLaren at lm434@leicester.ac.uk.

We anticipate that interviews will take place on 17 September 2025

As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying. More information regarding secondments can be found here

 The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

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