Research Assistant/Research Associate - Ireland and the "ends" of the British Empire (Fixed Term)

The role:

2 x three-year Postdoctoral Research Assistants/Associates based in the Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge to work on a UKRI-funded interdisciplinary research project, Ireland and the ‘ends’ of the British Empire, led by Principal Investigator, Dr Niamh Gallagher. The positions start on – or as close as possible to – the 1 June 2025:

What will you be doing?

• Undertaking research into where Ireland mattered in the long arc of British imperial ‘unmaking’ in both domestic and international archives;
• Working collaboratively and independently to attain the Project goals;
• Contributing your own research to the Project, which you can develop in accordance with your own expertise, disciplinary background and interests;
• Contributing to conferences, symposiums, workshops and other events;
• Producing analyses and academic outputs independently, collaboratively, and for the PI’s purposes;
• Co-creating outreach and impact activities with partners in school-level education, public policy and the media;
• Organising, running, creating content for and disseminating findings from the Cambridge Future of the Island of Ireland series;
• Managing small budgets and working closely with the Project Coordinator to ensure optimum expenditure and timely reporting.

You should apply if

You have:

• A PhD (or are close to being awarded a PhD) in a relevant discipline, e.g. Modern History, Literature, Politics, Modern Languages, Postcolonial Studies or a closely-related field;
• Demonstrable experience in working with different kinds of source materials relevant to empires, anticolonialism or postcolonial studies, from the late nineteenth century onwards;
• A project proposal that aligns with the objectives of the Project;
• A willingness to find out where Ireland, the Irish and Irish ‘Questions’ mattered in the long arc of British imperial ‘unmaking’, but prior experience of researching modern Ireland is not essential;
• Experience of working on sources pertinent – or which could be pertinent – to researching modern Ireland in any period from the late nineteenth century onwards;
• Proven ability to conduct a research project, producing clear deliverables and adhering to timelines; and experience of managing small budgets;
• Excellent attention to detail, the ability to work as part of a team, and to work independently;
• A desire to communicate academic research with different audiences and stakeholders and to work collaboratively to achieve this. 

The application process:

The successful candidates will need to meet the role specifications outlined on the Further Particulars, assessed via a completed application form, Curriculum Vitae (CV), writing sample, covering letter, and two-page proposal describing how their research might contribute to the Project.

If shortlisted, the successful candidates will be expected to undertake an initial 30-minute online interview for which questions will be circulated in advance.

A further round of shortlisting will then take place before a second in-person interview, in which candidates will be asked to present more fully on their two-page proposal and answer some questions.

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

Additional information:

For informal enquiries please contact: Dr Niamh Gallagher: nag31@cam.ac.uk

For enquiries about the application process, please contact: hr@hist.cam.ac.uk

About the Faculty of History: More information can be found here: Faculty of History home | Faculty of History University of Cambridge

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications: 07 April 2025 – 12.00am (BST)

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