2026 Welsh Election Study Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Location: Singleton Campus, Swansea

About The Role

The 2026 Welsh Election Study (WES 2026) is recruiting a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) for a 30-month position based at Swansea University, with collaboration across Aberystwyth University and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD).

This is an exciting opportunity to join a landmark UKRI-funded research project examining political attitudes and democratic engagement in Wales in the lead-up to and aftermath of the 2026 Senedd election. Working alongside a team of leading political scientists and data specialists, the PDRA will play a central role in delivering one of the project’s most innovative outputs: an open-access, bilingual public data dashboard designed to maximise the accessibility, visibility, and impact of the WES 2026 survey data.

The successful applicant will contribute to the preparation, analysis, and visualisation of large-scale public opinion data and help develop resources and training for academic, policy, and educational users. They will work to develop the core survey dataset using geospatial data to align it with other geographically encoded social research data. They will support engagement events and workshops with project stakeholders, contribute to publications and briefings, and support the team in meeting key milestones and reporting requirements.

The role is ideal for a researcher with a PhD in Politics/Political Science, Data Science, or a related field, and strong quantitative research skills. Experience working with survey data, data visualisation, or public data engagement is especially valued.

The PDRA will benefit from access to a dedicated training budget, mentorship from experienced researchers, and embedded collaboration with WISERD’s Data Lab team in Cardiff and Focus Games Ltd. in Glasgow. This is a rare opportunity to shape a high-impact public resource while advancing your own research and professional development in a supportive, engaging environment.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh. Applicants for a role where Welsh skills are essential are expected to present their application in Welsh and will be interviewed in Welsh, if shortlisted.

Additional Information

Applications for this role will take the format of a CV submission and cover letter.

Closing Date: 15 January 2026

Interview Date: 23 January 2026

Informal Enquiries

• Prof Matthew Wall m.t.wall@swansea.ac.uk
• Dr Bettina Petersohn B.Petersohn@Swansea.ac.uk

Advert information