Postdoctoral Research Assistant – History of Prejudice at The Open University

Interview Date: expected to take place 1 March 2024

Role requirements

Whilst it will be possible for the successful applicant to work from home for the majority of the time, the post holder will be expected to be able to attend the Milton Keynes site occasionally for meetings. They will also be expected to travel within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland to carry out archival and interview research.

Due to funder and project requirements the successful candidate will need to be available to take up the post in April 2024.

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The role

The person appointed will be expected to contribute to the “Anti-Catholicism in the UK since 1945: An interdisciplinary study of prejudice” project in the following main ways:

• Undertake desk, library, and archival research on the history of anti-Catholicism in the UK since the Second World War
• Collaborate closely with other team members in the analysis of research data bringing together historical and psychological methodologies
• Contribute to the management of the project, through the organization of meetings and travel, the storage of research data and the development of a website
• Be lead author of at least one refereed journal article and a contributing author to the final project monograph

Skills and experience

Applicants should:

• Have a first degree in History or a closely related discipline
• Have a PhD demonstrating research excellence in historical research methodologies appropriate to the study of the 20^th century UK
• Be committed to interdisciplinary research
• Have the ability to work collaboratively, collegially, adaptively and responsively with others, and to give/ receive constructive feedback
• Have an ability to plan and organize their own work to ensure deadlines are met

More information is available in the Job Description.

For further details and context, please contact John Wolffe john.wolffe@open.ac.uk,  the academic lead for this project.

If you would like to discuss the application or recruitment process before making an application, please contact Donna Elstob at Resourcing Hub on 01908 655544 or email Resourcing-Hub@open.ac.uk quoting the reference 21449.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days.

How to apply

For further information on how to apply please click the ‘Apply’ button.