Postdoctoral Research Associate

Location: Singleton Campus, Swansea

About The Role

This is a full-time, two-year contract designed to help launch an early career research’s career.

As a member of Swansea University, you will join colleagues conducting world-class research in disability studies and neurodiversity studies across time-periods and disciplines, and in early modern literature. You will hold a fixed term 2 year post on the project AMEND – Early Modern European Neurodivergence. AMEND is a 6-year project funded by the Wellcome Trust that aims to significantly shift the understanding of what we currently call neurodivergence by investigating the analogous concept(s) used by early modern people. Establishing a longer conceptual history of neurodivergence than currently exists, AMEND will nurture neurodivergent people’s agency and wellbeing. The project’s definition of neurodivergence is broad and inclusive and encompasses research into areas such as voice-hearing, addictions, and dementia alongside what might more commonly be thought of as ‘neurodivergent conditions’ such as autism and into the concept of neurodivergence itself. We aim to explore and value the diversity of neurodivergence, and to foreground often marginalised neurodivergent communities such as partially verbal people and neurodivergent people of colour.

You will contribute to the first two years of AMEND, working with the PI and Administrator to achieve the project’s first key goal: ‘to investigate the significance and signification of neurodivergence in early modern Europe, across languages and cultures, remaining attentive to early modern cross-cultural encounters’ (for example, with the Global South). This first strand of the project involves archival research, a conference, and a practice-as-research theatre project.

The project grant provides you with financial support to visit archives and attend conferences as part of your role, and funded training in areas relevant to the project. You will receive regular mentoring from the PI, and the opportunity to have a second or alternative mentor at Swansea.  

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

Additional Information

Applications for this role will take the format of a CV submission and cover letter.

To apply please send:  

• A project plan: up to one side of A4 (or, if more accessible to you, a video or audio file of up to 3 minutes) describing the two-year project into early modern neurodivergence that you might pursue if you were successful for this role.
• A cover letter: up to one side of A4 (or, if more accessible to you, a video or audio file of up to 3 minutes) explaining how you meet the criteria for this role.
• A CV of a maximum of 2 sides of A4. Please use a minimum font size of 11pt for these documents. 

For shortlisted applicants, two samples of writing (published or unpublished) or an equivalent sample of your existing work (such as a podcast) will be required ahead of the interview. 

Closing Date: 6 April 2025

Interviews will take place in the week commencing May 5th.

Informal Enquiries: Dr Laura Seymour Laura.seymour@swansea.ac.uk

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