Postdoctoral Research Associate

Fixed term contract until 31/08/2028.

About the role

The Centre of European Law (CEL) invites applications for the CEL Post Doctoral Research Associate, a 24-month appointment due to commence in September 2026. The role provides a development opportunity to an early career researcher with exceptional potential in research and scholarship within the area of European Law. The successful applicant will have received their PhD in a relevant subject area within 5 years of the start date. During the two-year appointment, the CEL Post Doctoral Research Associate will be fully integrated within the research community of the Centre of European Law and will contribute to CEL’s research culture, grant capture and engagement and research impact activities. As such, they will be expected to produce high-quality publishable research and, in collaboration with CEL members, at least one major collaborative grant application per year. 

The objectives and key responsibilities of the posts are as follows: 

Research and scholarship: 

• During the two-year appointment, the CEL Post Doctoral Research Associate will:  
• Develop at least one major collaborative grant application per year together with the members of the Centre of European Law
• support the CEL in its research funding development and grant application capture; working with the Centre Directors and Research Development Manager;
• Contribute to joint CEL publications, projects or initiatives;
• Publish 2-3 pieces of authored and co-authored research in peer reviewed journals, as a book chapter, or as a monograph.

Communication, liaison and networking: 

• The CEL Post Doctoral Research Associate will be expected to: 
• participate in and develop the Centre’s engagement and impact activity; with the expectation that the CEL Post Doctoral Research Associate will lead on the design and organisation of a minimum of two CEL events per year, with support from events staff.
• contribute to the research environment and support the Centres aims and values; 
• be able to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature. 

Teamwork 

• Be actively integrated with the CEL team and work effectively with colleagues on Centre-led initiatives;
• Attend and contribute to Centre meetings, as required;
• Attend Centre events, as required.

Initiative, problem solving and decision making: 

• Develop ideas for application/dissemination of research outcomes;  
• Contribute to collaborative decision making with colleagues in areas of research

Expertise 

• Possess sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes

This is a full time (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31/08/2028.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area
• Strong understanding of EU funding landscape
• Experience in grant writing or supporting funding applications.
• Proven ability to publish research in peer reviewed journals, as a book chapter, or as a monograph
• Commitment to The CEL’s aims and values  and ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a team
• Ability to develop professional networks and experience coordinating engagement activity.  
• Experience delivering presentations at conferences and ability to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature

Desirable criteria

• Experience in grant writing or supporting successful grant applications from EU funding bodies. 
• Strong understanding of research impact. 
• Able to outline a credible 2-year plan for publication of PhD research and/or new research   

Please apply via the ‘Apply’ button above.

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