Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Rural-Spatial-Justice)

Job Description

The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa

The Role

We are seeking to appoint two Post-Doctoral Research Associates to work on the ‘Rural Discontent, Spatial Justice and Disruptive Politics in the 21^st Century’ (Rural-Spatial-Justice) research project, led by Professor Michael Woods. The project, selected as a European Research Council Advanced Grant and funded by the UKRI Frontier Research Guarantee, examines patterns and dynamics of rural support for disruptive political movements (such as populism) in liberal democracies, explores connections to sentiments of rural discontent and perceptions of spatial injustice, and investigate responses that address polarisation and promote social and spatial justice. The post-holders will contribute to the research through the collection and analysis of qualitative data, including library, online and field research, involving interviews, ethnography, textual analysis and participatory methods. The post will be based in Aberystwyth but will involve domestic and international travel, including extended periods of field research potentially in the UK, USA, France, Austria, Poland and/or Romania. The responsibilities of the post-holder will additionally include contributions to the intellectual and methodological design and development of the research, routine project management, and dissemination of results, including writing scientific outputs, social media and online content, and presentations.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Professor Michael Woods at m.woods@aber.ac.uk.  

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

The anticipated start date is 1 October 2025.

What you’ll do

As a Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) you will contribute to the delivery of the ‘Rural Discontent, Spatial Justice and Disruptive Politics in the 21^st Century’ (Rural-Spatial-Justice) project, specialising in the collection and analysis of qualitative data. Rural-Spatial-Justice is a five-year project, from 1 January 2024 to 3 December 2028, which was selected by the European Research Council as an Advanced Grant and is funded by the UKRI Frontier Research Guarantee.

You will work as part of a project team at Aberystwyth University led by Professor Michael Woods alongside Dr Emanuele Amo (Qualitative PDRA), Conor Judge (Quantitative/GIS PDRA) and Dr Rachel Vaughan (Project Administrator), as well as three US-based co-investigators/advisors: Professor Loka Ashwood (University of Wisconsin Madison), Professor Leland Glenna (Penn State University) and Professor Ryan Weichelt (University of Wisconsin Eau Claire).

Rural-Spatial-Justice responds to the apparent significance of rural voters in disruptive political movements such as the Brexit referendum in Britain, election of Donald Trump in the USA, rising support for populist and/or far-right parties in Europe and South America, and backing for separatism in Scotland and Catalonia. Rural-Spatial-Justice examines the patterns and dynamics of rural support for disruptive politics and test posited explanations. It develops a novel analytical framework employing the concept of spatial justice to explore connections between disruptive politics and rural discontent, including inequalities in economic trajectories and resource distribution and perceptions of injustice in political decision-making and the neglect of rural cultures and their interests. The project also considers the implications of populist or exclusionary discourses for the rights of individuals and communities in rural areas and investigate alternative inclusive approaches for addressing discontent and promoting spatial justice.

Rural-Spatial-Justice involves a mixed methods strategy, combining qualitative, quantitative and participatory data, and international comparative research in a progressive scalar framework that moves from an initial global survey to national-scale analysis to local-scale case studies. The research focuses in particular on the UK, USA and Italy, plus at least two further European countries. The selection of the additional countries will be determined in part by the language competences of the appointed researchers. Potential countries under consideration include France, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland and Romania.

Rural-Spatial-Justice is organised into six work packages:

WP1: Dynamics and Discourses of Rural Disruptive Politics is currently underway and involves scoping patterns, timelines and effects of disruptive politics in liberal democracies since 2000 and examining connections made to rural discontent or marginalization in political materials, media representations and commentaries.

WP2: Mapping the Electoral Geographies of Disruptive Politics examines patterns of support for disruptive political movements between rural and urban areas and within rural regions through GIS mapping and statistical analysis, focusing on the UK, USA, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain.

WP3: Survey of Rural Support for Disruptive Politics and Perceptions of Spatial Justice will explore levels and patterns of support for disruptive political movements in rural populations and how these relate to perceptions of spatial justice, through a large-n survey in the UK, US states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and three from France, the Netherlands, Poland or Spain.

WP4: Local Case Studies of Rural Change and Disruptive Politics will involve in-depth ethnographic case studies to explore how support for disruptive political movements is nurtured and negotiated within local rural contexts, with two case studies in Britain, one each in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and two in either France, Netherlands, Poland or Spain.

WP5: Inclusive Spatial Justice and Articulating Rural Alternatives will employ participatory research methods and dialogue techniques to engage local residents in three case study localities in exploring responses to disruptive politics and actions to counter polarization and address (perceived) marginalisation.

WP6: Synthesis will combine and integrate data and findings from WPs 1-5 using Bazeley’s framework for integrated mixed-methods analysis.

As a qualitative PDRA, you will primarily contribute to WPs 1, 4, 5 and 6, including online interviews and textual analysis in WP1, field-based interviews and ethnographic research in up to three case study localities in WP4, and participatory action research and dialogues in WP5.

The specific responsibilities of the post are:

• To conduct literature reviews and collate information and findings from a range of peer-reviewed and grey literatures to inform methodological and conceptual development and data analysis.
• To undertake desk-based, online, library and archival research to collate information from a range of sources, including use of data-scraping technologies.
• To design, develop and deliver methodological strategies and undertake appropriate field research to collect qualitative data through techniques including interviews, focus groups, ethnography and participatory methods.
• To analyse qualitative data collected from primary and secondary sources using appropriate techniques and contribute to the synthesis of diverse data to identify key themes and findings.
• To contribute to the dissemination of findings from the research, including through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, social media, podcasts, and engagement with non-academic audiences.
• To work with other project team members to ensure the effective management and delivery of the research programme, including appropriate record-keeping and reporting, assistance with other aspects of data collection as required, and support for event organisation and other dissemination activities.
• To process, manage and prepare data in accordance with the University’s data management policy and protocols, including preparation of data for archiving.
• To ensure that all research activity undertaken is compliant with the University’s ethical policy and protocols.

• To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• To be committed to your own development through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme, participation in appropriate training and professional development courses and workshops and other reasonable activities.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

The responsibilities of this vacancy have been matched to the Academic Role Research 2. Details of the role profile can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/departmental/humanresources/frameworkagreement/academicprofiles/R2.pdf

The post will be based in Aberystwyth, but will necessarily involve some travel and periods away for field research, conferences, etc.. This will include extended periods of fieldwork in the UK, USA and/or Europe. Capacity to undertake travel and fieldwork is a requirement of the post, however, there is potential for flexibility in detailed arrangements and the split of responsibilities between research team in order accommodate candidates who may be constrained by personal circumstances. Some aspects of the research may occasionally require work in evenings or at weekends, which will be compensated for by time off during normal working hours.

You will be employed in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES) at Aberystwyth University and affiliated with the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society and with the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD), and inter-university and interdisciplinary social science research institution. You will be encouraged to participate in activities organised by DGES, CWPS and WISERD, including seminars, reading groups and training and capacity building workshops, as well as in other research networks within and beyond the University.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Appropriate academic training to an advanced postgraduate level in Human Geography, Politics, Sociology, or another relevant field, as indicated by a PhD (completed or close to completion).
2. A record of research at a postgraduate or post-doctoral level on a topic relevant to themes of the project (e.g. rural politics and protest, populism, electoral geography, spatial justice)
3. Experience of conducting field-based research, utilising one or more of the techniques for qualitative data collection indicated in the job description.
4. An appreciation and understanding of the academic context of the Rural-Spatial-Justice research and relevant key concepts.
5. Ability to conduct interviews and undertake field research in at least one of French, Dutch, German, Polish or Romanian.
6. Proven skill in analysing qualitative data through the use of appropriate techniques to develop critical interpretations and arguments.
7. Capacity to communicate research findings effectively through academic writing and oral presentation, as demonstrated by academic publications and/or conference papers.
8. An appreciation of the political context of the research and demonstrated capacity to understand and manage related issues of research ethics.
9. Self-motivation and organization, including the capacity to undertake independent field research effectively and to work to deadlines.
10. Strong inter-personal skills and the capacity to work effectively as part of a team.
11. An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually (Welsh Language Level A0*)

Desirable

1. Experience of international field research outside the UK.
2. Experience of communicating research to non-academic audiences.
3. Quantitative data analysis skills that
4. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1* or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

How to apply

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.

Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus. 

Please keep reading

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.

Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.

Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:

 *Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:

• A national of a majority English speaking country
• Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
• Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa