Postdoctoral Research Associate

The above part-time (0.4FTE) post is available from 18 May 2026 until 17 November 2026 on a fixed-term basis, within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Professor Stacey Hynd. This Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded post is available from 18 May 2026 until 17 November 2026 on a fixed-term basis at 0.4FTE. Successful applicants will join the AHRC Standard Grant ‘Children of War: Evolving Local and Global Understandings of Child Soldiering in African Conflicts, c.1940-2000’. This project will deliver the first historical analysis of patterns of child soldiering in warfare in Africa, with key case studies being Uganda, Angola/South Africa and DRC/Burundi. The research also focuses on the evolution of humanitarian and human rights actions against the recruitment and use of children and youth in armed conflict, in Africa and in global perspective, and on disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programming for children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups.

This advertised post will support the development of research impact generated from the grant research, and linked AHRC Impact Accelerator Account projects on war-affected children in Uganda and children formerly associated with armed groups and terrorist groups in Nigeria.

The post will include:

• Working as part of a research team with academics and practitioners to develop the project impact and outputs
• Development of impact and public engagement activities, including policy workshops and dialogues, toolkit development, project website and social media
• Writing impact outputs, including policy briefs and recommendations, project website and social media. There is potential for involvement in co-authoring a related journal article.

About you

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or be near completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in African or humanitarian history or a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of archival and oral interview research methods and techniques to work developing impact from the research. Applicants will:

• Undertake impact and research collaboration in English. Knowledge of relevant languages in Northern Nigeria/Delta regions of Nigeria and Northern Uganda is also strongly desirable.
• Have experience of analysing oral history and oral interviews.
• Have experience of analysing archival research, in African and/or international archives
• Have knowledge of historical or interdisciplinary studies on children and/or youth in Africa, with knowledge of children and/or youth in armed conflict or humanitarian emergencies strongly desirable. Awareness of gendered perspectives on children and youth is also welcome.
• Will ideally have experience of, or knowledge of, developing impact or advocacy for children formerly associated with armed groups, or conflict-affected children.
• Have experience of working collaboratively to deliver research and or impact.  

This position is developmental for early career scholars, with mentoring and training to support the development of digital, impact and communications skills.  

Applications are particularly encouraged from scholars from the African continent and global South, and those of African or Global Majority descent.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking the 'apply' button.

Further Information

For further information please contact Professor Stacey Hynd, e-mail: s.hynd@exeter.ac.uk.

The closing date for completed applications is 27 April 2026 at 23:59pm. Interviews are anticipated to take place shortly after the closing date.

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