Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the Role

The School of Politics and International Relations and the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London are seeking an outstanding early-career scholar for the position of Postdoctoral Research Associate. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the research and public engagement mission of a leading UK public policy institute. The postholder will play a key role in shaping and delivering the Mile End Institute’s research agenda, with particular responsibility for its flagship project – Polling London. This will include designing and analysing bi-annual opinion surveys, working with polling partners, and sharing findings through media engagement, events, and policy-focused outputs.

In addition, the role involves:

• Contributing actively to the research culture of the School, Institute, Faculty, and wider university.
• Developing public engagement initiatives, especially with underserved communities.
• Building and maintaining strategic relationships with external partners in government, civil society, and the media.
• Using research expertise to inform public policy and maximise impact.

About You

You will hold a PhD in Political Science, Public Policy, or a closely related discipline in the Social Sciences or Humanities. You will bring:

• Strong skills in quantitative and survey research methods.
• A growing profile of internationally excellent research in British Politics, Public Policy, or Public Administration.
• An emerging record of high-quality publications in leading academic outlets.
• A clear commitment to public engagement and policy-relevant research.
• The ability to communicate research findings effectively to academic and non-academic audiences alike.

About the School

The School of Politics and International Relations is a vibrant, collegial intellectual community including scholars from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. It is home to a highly diverse cohort of students and offers a broad-ranging and methodologically plural curriculum in the fields of Politics and International Relations. The Mile End Institute brings together politicians, policymakers, academics, and the public to debate the major challenges facing the country and its capital in a fast-moving world.

The School welcomes applications from women, ethnic minority, neuro-diverse candidates and candidates with disabilities. Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. All applicants will be assessed fairly against the same criteria and will be shortlisted according to experience and merit as appropriate. 

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to personal and professional development opportunities. We offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies.

The post is based at Mile End. It is a full-time, two-year fixed-term appointment, with an expected start of 1st September 2025. 

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