Research Fellow (Qualitative)

Fixed term contract for 4 years, 36.5 hours per week.

Closing Date: 31 Oct 2019

The Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick seeks a qualitative researcher in the social sciences. The appointment will be made for four years. The successful candidate will perform research tasks associated with the European Research Council funded project ‘Neoliberal Terror: The Radicalisation of Social Policy in Europe’, under the supervision of the Principle Investigator Dr Charlotte Heath-Kelly.

This project investigates the political, economic and discursive mechanisms which have brought counterterrorism into European health and social care sectors. Doctors, nurses and social care professionals are now responsible for noticing, checking and sharing signs of radicalisation as part of national terrorism prevention programs. The project tests the hypothesis that neoliberalism contextualises and influences the diffusion of Countering Violent Extremism policies.

Candidates must have experience of using discourse analysis, as they will be required to undertake a large discourse analysis of EU policy documents, speeches, and reports from expert bodies such as the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and the European Forum on Urban Security (EFUS). The candidate will use Critical Discourse Analysis to inform their analysis of these materials, explaining the process by which European institutions and policymakers have medicalised terrorism as a public health issue. The post holder will also attend meetings of the Radicalisation Awareness Network, and other European fora, with the PI to produce new data on the standardisation and diffusion of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) policies in Europe.

The post holder will also assist the PI with case study research in six European nations where CVE is implemented within local Health and Social Care organisations. It is desirable that candidates have experience of semi-structured interview methodology, and/or ethnographic methods. Familiarity with the French, Lithuanian or Croatian language is desirable but by no means essential.

It is desirable that candidates are familiar with European counterterrorism legislation.

The anticipated start date is 1st Feb 2020. A generous travel budget exists for the post holder to present the research at international conferences, and to support the development of their own research.

Applications from female candidates and those from a minority ethnic background are especially welcome as these groups are currently underrepresented within the Department.

For further information, please contact Dr Charlotte Heath-Kelly at C.Heath-Kelly@warwick.ac.uk. Or apply here: https://bit.ly/32zVE7P

JOB PURPOSE:

To perform discourse analysis of EU policy documents, speeches, and reports from expert bodies, use Critical Discourse Analysis to inform their analysis, and work alongside the PI to the process by which European institutions and policymakers have medicalised terrorism as a public health issue. The post holder will also attend meetings of the Radicalisation Awareness Network and work with the PI to produce new data on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) policies in Europe.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performing discourse analysis, qualitative case study research and semi-structured interviews as part of the European Research Council project ‘Neoliberal Terror: The Radicalisation of Social Policy in Europe’.

Person Specification

The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.

Essential Criteria 1 – A PhD in a Social Science subject (a)
Essential Criteria 2 – Experience of using discourse analysis methodology (a,c,d)
Essential Criteria 3 – The ability to act as an independent researcher (a,c)

Essential Criteria 4 – The ability to present research results through verbal and written presentations (a,c)
Essential Criteria 5 – Excellent organisational skills (a,c)
Essential Criteria 6 – Effective communication skills (a,c)
Essential Criteria 7 – Experience of publishing research in academic journals or book series (a,c)

Desirable Criteria 1 – An ability to speak French, Croatian or Lithuanian (a,c)
Desirable Criteria 2 – Experience of using semi-structured interview or ethnographic research methods (a,c,d)
Desirable Criteria 3 – Has research familiarity with European counterterrorism policies and/or practices (a,c,d)

Further Particulars: For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars.

For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website.

The Political Studies Association recently included Politics and International Studies (PAIS) at Warwick among the UK’s ‘big five’ politics departments after analysing the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results. In terms of REF2014 rankings:

• PAIS ranked 4th out of 56, based on the all-important indicator of research intensity.
• PAIS scored the maximum 100% 4* for Research Environment, showing that our research, in all aspects of its organisation, conduct and management, is deemed ‘world leading’ by our professional colleagues.
• More than 93% of our research impact among non-academic beneficiaries was judged to be ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, demonstrating that our research continues to widely influence the policies of governments and international institutions, civil society, the media, business and the general public. PAIS submitted six case studies (the 4th highest in the Politics and International Studies UoA) and secured a raw GPA of 3.50, placing it 11th overall (6th in the Russell Group) and 5th if measured by research power. Feedback from the REF sub-panel highlighted the ‘outstanding culture of impact’ in the Department, which promotes the co-production of applied knowledge by integrating end-users throughout the research lifecycle.

If you have not yet been awarded your PhD but are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant on level 5 of the University grade structure (£30,046 pa). Upon successful award of your PhD and evidence of this fact, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure (£30,942 pa).

Right to work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/ or are seeking sponsorship under Tier 2 of the UK points-based immigration system
please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship under Tier 2.

The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy

As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.