Smuts Research Fellow (Fixed Term)

Department/Location: Centre of African Studies, Cambridge

The Centre of African Studies invites applications for the Smuts Research Fellowship in African Studies from candidates in all disciplines within the humanities and social sciences. Candidates should have excellent research ability in a field that fits with the interdisciplinary ethos of the Centre. The appointment is for a period of three years and is non-renewable.

The Smuts Research Fellow will be expected to engage in high-level research, publish in their specialist field, and contribute to teaching and supervision of MPhil students in African Studies. The precise nature of the teaching contribution is open to discussion, but we would require the Fellow to be present and available to teach in either Michaelmas or Lent term each year, as well as to be resident in Cambridge for most of each year. The Fellow will also be involved in organising the Centre's seminar programme and colloquia. Experience working with African universities and Africa-based researchers and civil society is a distinct advantage, as is knowledge of an African language. Applicants will have gained a PhD (or equivalent) within the last five years or will have gained a PhD by the time of the appointment.

Further information about the Centre and MPhil programme can be found here: Centre of African Studies |

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

We particularly welcome applications from women and/0r candidates from a BME background for this vacancy.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the apply button above.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application, and a recent writing sample (maximum 10,000 words). The details of three academic referees should be included.

The closing date for applications for this post is Midnight on Tuesday 28th January 2025. Interviews for shortlisted applicants, to be conducted online, on Friday 14th March 2025. 

Please quote reference UA44258 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. 

Enquiries regarding the vacancy may be addressed to centre@african.cam.ac.uk 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. 

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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