Research Associate at the Russia Institute

Job id: 072046. Salary: £42,405 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 02 August 2023. Closing date: 30 August 2023.

Business unit: Social Science & Public Policy. Department: Russia Institute.

Contact details:Gulnaz Sharafutdinova. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Research.

Job description

With support from the Khodorkovsky Foundation, the King’s Russia Institute is seeking to recruit a postdoctoral research associate. Bringing together an interdisciplinary team of social scientists, the Institute delivers a flagship MSc in Russian and Eurasian Politics & Economics and a PhD in Russian & Eurasian Studies, attracting students from across the UK, EU, North America and Asia, while providing Russia- and Eurasia-focused teaching to some 350 students from across departments and faculties at King’s each year.

The Research Associate will:

Pursue a comparative, methodological or theoretical innovation within the framework of their established research agenda, with a view to improving publishability and bolstering their research trajectory looking ahead. Within this, fellows would be expected to prepare one to two journal articles for submission over the course of the year.

Build lasting collaborative and mentorship relationships, that expand the fellow’s comparative, methodological and conceptual ‘toolkit’, including by convening a one-day research network workshop at King’s, and through presentations in research seminars at King’s and other universities in the UK. The fellowship is intended to continue supporting the fellow’s career after the term ends, by fostering relationships that will provide for ongoing mentorship, as well as collaboration in research, publication and grant capture. The fellowship aims in particular to support Russian scholars who might not otherwise have the opportunity to build such relationships.

Contribute to the Institute’s teaching, including through the delivery of a single taught module in the fellow’s area of research at the postgraduate level, through guest lectures in undergraduate modules, and through participation in the Institute’s academic oversight.

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract for 12 months. The latest possible end date is 31 December 2024.

Key responsibilities

• Pursue an independent social science research project, relevant to the academic interests of the King’s Russia Institute;
• Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the King’s Russia Institute;
• Take part in the intellectual life of the Institute, including with its academic staff, affiliates, students and external audiences and friends.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       PhD awarded, or near completion, in political science, sociology, social anthropology, economics or an associated discipline

2.       Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and the ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely, in both English and Russian;

3.       Excellent workload and time management skills;

4.       Experience teaching at the university level;

5.       Experience undertaking independent social science research, including a demonstrated record of or trajectory towards publication in international academic journals and presses.

6.       An innovative research agenda that speaks to the knowledge demands of the new geopolitical context associated with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Desirable criteria

1.       A specialization in a field relevant to the academic interests of the Institute but not fully covered by existing teaching staff, including but not limited to sociology, social anthropology, cybersecurity, economic behaviour;

2.       Demonstrated ability to provide conceptual, methodological and empirical guidance to students working on postgraduate dissertations.

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

• The selection process will include a panel interview, conducted online if necessary.