Postdoctoral Research Associate in Race, Gender and Class

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Sociology with a particular emphasis on the study of social class and its intersections with race and gender. Funded by an award from the Economic and Social Research Council’s Secondary Data Analysis Initiative, this project led by Dr Stephen Ashe (profile here) seeks to offer an intersectional re-reading of the original data and associated para-data from key studies considered foundational to the sociology of class in Britain. More specifically, this historical-sociological project will analyse original datasets deposited with the UK Data Service, including original interview documents, researchers’ notes and supplementary study materials newly digitised as part of the project by the Special Collections team at the University of Essex.

Working with Dr Ashe and Professor Vikki Boliver (see here), the successful applicant will be expected to lead on the thematic qualitative analyse of the aforementioned interview documents, researchers’ notes and supplementary study materials, as well as support project administration. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the production of a minimum of four peer-reviewed journal articles suitable for submission to REF2029, and lead on the writing of at least one of these articles.

The co-primary investigators for this project are willing to negotiate the successful applicant starting work on the project between January and March 2025. They are also open to hybrid working. That said, the successful applicant would be expected to be able to meet in Durham in person at least 1-2 times per month. The role may involve travelling to local archives to collect data in person, as well as travelling to present project findings at national and international conferences.

This post is fixed term for 12 months due to funding available, with an anticipated start date in early 2026.

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