Research Fellowship for post-holders of Black Identity or Heritage (Research Associate, Fixed term)

The McDonald Institute invites applications for the fourth annual Fellowship in archaeology (broadly defined) aimed at candidates of Black Identity or Heritage. The McDonald Institute aims to nurture excellence in the discipline of archaeology regardless of background and in pursuit of diverse knowledges, approaches and practices. We recognise that persistent structural inequalities disadvantage people from Black backgrounds and communities, including within higher education and academic research. We are keen to enable underrepresented early career researchers of Black Identity or Heritage to develop their portfolio of research experience and to thrive in academia. This one-year postdoctoral Fellowship is designed to attract research excellence and we will provide the Fellows with training, mentorship and support to drive their careers forward and to generate a more diverse pipeline of future talent. In addition to salary, the Fellow will be entitled to up to £2,500 relocation costs and £5,000 training and research costs to be spent within the year of the Fellowship. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to apply through open competition for up to £5,000 p.a. from the D.M. McDonald Grants and Awards Fund for each of three years subsequent to the Fellowship and will be eligible for up to £2,500 expenses for one subsequent return visit to Cambridge. The successful candidate will also be eligible to take up a College Post-Doctoral Associate Position (CPD) at Jesus College for the year of their appointment, possibly extended (excluding the CPDA) for one further University term dependent on circumstances and funds.

The Fellowship will commence on 1st October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applicants must normally have defended their PhD a maximum of 7 years prior to the closing date. Applications are encouraged from all branches and fields of archaeology broadly construed, including also human evolution, heritage and museums studies, with no restrictions on methodological approach, period or geographic focus. Applicants should propose a well-focussed research project to be developed across the period of the Fellowship.

We strongly support applications from candidates of any nationality, though the successful post-holder must hold or be granted the right to live and work in the UK. We will support right to work applications. The Fellowship is open to people who self-identify as being from a Black Identity or Heritage background, including dual-heritage, understood as, Black British; Black African; Black Caribbean; African American; Black American; other Black backgrounds. We strongly encourage applicants from the United Kingdom and globally and from those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30th September 2026 in the first instance.

Please refer to the further particulars before applying.

Informal inquiries may be addressed to the Deputy Director (opportunities@mcdonald.cam.ac.uk). 

The closing date is midnight (UK time) on Friday 2nd May 2025.

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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