KOCH Junior Fellow

About the role

The Koch Historical Centre provides a new institutional home in Oxford for the pursuit of world-class historical research. Funded initially for 5 years, the Centre will receive its first intake of fellows in October 2025. The Centre aims to promote curiosity-driven humanities research with a strong emphasis on multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to the study of history.  The Centre will be housed in Wadham College, Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PN, and work in conjunction with the Faculty of History, Humanities Division, University of Oxford.

The Centre will appoint 3 senior and 9 junior fellows each year. The emphasis on attracting early-career scholars flows from the desire to attract and nurture outstanding researchers, who will shape the field for the next generation. Junior fellowships will be for one year (i.e., 12 months), and will be open to any postdoctoral, early career (tenure track) or tenured academic within 10 years of being awarded their PhD at the time of application (with additional allowance for periods of maternity leave, illness, or other special circumstances).

The Role

The theme chosen for 2025-26 is the historical relationship between Religion and the State, and the Centre particularly welcomes applications from scholars whose work contributes to broader discussion of the interaction of religious belief with historical writing. The successful applicant will conduct world-class independent research based on the theme for the relevant year of the Koch fellowship, and analyse detailed and complex qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources, and generate original ideas. They will also write book chapters and research articles for peer-reviewed journals, and give one seminar talk during the period of the Koch fellowship and contribute to discussions concerning methodological and historiographical topics at the weekly meetings. 

About you

You will hold a relevant PhD/DPhil with post-qualification research experience (postdoctoral, early career (tenure track) or tenured academic within 10 years of being awarded a PhD at the time of application), with an established (inter)national reputation and publication record. You will also possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research projects and methodologies, and have the ability to independently plan and manage a research project.

This post is full time, fixed-term for 12 months.

Application Process

All practical and procedural queries should be sent to our recruitments team: recruitments@history.ox.ac.uk . All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence; they will not form part of the selection decision.

You will be required to complete a supporting statement, of no more than 2 single spaced sides of A4, setting out how you meet the selection criteria for the post and to include details of your proposed project related to the fellowship theme for 2025-26, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application.

Only applications submitted online and received before noon Wednesday 26th February 2025 can be considered.

Please note that you will receive an automated email from our online recruitment portal to confirm receipt of your application. Please check your spam/junk mail if you do not receive this email. You may also receive updates on the status of your application via the same means.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity