Stuart Hall Interdisciplinary Chair

Professorial Post 

The University of Birmingham is seeking to appoint the inaugural Stuart Hall Interdisciplinary Chair. While the substantive field and disciplinary background of the post holder is open, it is anticipated that the appointee will be inspired by the work of Professor Stuart Hall and the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS) and have a clear and inspiring vision of how the legacy of that work can be enhanced and developed for the future. Areas that might be relevant here include race and racism, ethnicity, gender, migration, media, representation, history, visual culture, and/or other contemporary cultural issues.

You will be able to demonstrate a world-leading research programme evidenced through high quality and influential publications and a track record of research grant capture. You will be able to lead and support our growing team of colleagues across the University in this field to consolidate and develop the University’s education offer around contemporary cultural studies.

The Chair will be based in the School of Social Policy and Society, in the College of Social Sciences. We partner with the College of Life and Environmental Sciences and the College of Arts and Law to host the Stuart Hall Archive Project, a 3-year research programme (ending July 2026), directly funded by the University of Birmingham, supporting three PIs, two researchers, and an archivist, to use Hall’s papers held by the University’s archive – the Cadbury Research Library. The project has two main aims: to explore the history of Hall’s intellectual and political formation and development at specific conjunctures; and to forge a new space for dialogue between Hall’s intellectual and political legacy and contemporary questions arising from present constituencies and communities. In addition to the development of forums and events for collaboration with external partners, researchers, artists, and community activists, the Project is committed to a range of outputs (exhibitions, publications, and online resources and platforms) and the identification of external funding opportunities for expansion and extension of the project. In addition, the University holds the archive of the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies. 

Vital to this appointment is a well-evidenced commitment to civic and community engagement, as well as an ability to bring together researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds. The Stuart Hall Interdisciplinary Chair will be committed to the ongoing use of and engagement with the Stuart Hall Archive inside and outside the academy.

The appointee will share the School’s values of criticality, interdisciplinarity, collaboration and engagement. will be committed to making the School an inclusive place to work and study. They will act as a role model for academic citizenship within the School and the wider University, and be committed to engaging widely to continually improve research culture, particularly on dimensions of inclusion relevant to their substantive field of research.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Nicola Gale, Head of the School of Social Policy and Society, n.gale@bham.ac.uk.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Closing date: 8 September 2024

Interviews will take place on 28 October 2024

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