Cadbury Postdoctoral Fellowship in African Studies at the University of Birmingham School of History and Cultures in the United Kingdom. The Department of African Studies and Anthropology (DASA) at the University of Birmingham seeks a postdoctoral fellow in African Studies to contribute to our research and teaching for 18 months. This post is funded by an endowment that enables members of the staff at sub-Saharan African Universities to spend a period of time at the University of Birmingham. The post is therefore limited to applicants currently based on the African continent and affiliated with an African Higher Education Institution.

Position Summary

The appointee will undertake a significant programme of research and publication. While the specific goals of the programme are to be identified with the fellow’s dedicated mentor, they should include the publication of high-quality outputs such as a single-authored book or peer-reviewed articles based on the fellow’s own research. In addition, the appointee will facilitate exchange and collaboration between DASA and one or more institutions in Africa and engage with non-academic audiences and beneficiaries or potential beneficiaries of research.

The appointee will also contribute to teaching on Africa, spending a maximum of six hours per week on average in the convening, teaching and assessment of modules, dissertation supervision, tutorial sessions and other forms of student engagement. The department has a particular need for introductory (year 1 undergraduate) teaching in African history.

Benefits

The appointee of Cadbury Postdoctoral Fellowship will be given the opportunity to obtain a teaching qualification through the University’s professional development programme, and have access to academic development and support structures including a dedicated mentor.

The University will provide support for the visa application process, and it will pay for the visa and pre-agreed visa application expenses for the successful candidate. It will also be responsible for the appointee’s NHS surcharge fee, which allows the applicant to access the National Health Service.

Key Duties

• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids.
• Operate within area of specialism.
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results.
• Contribute to generating funding.
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or simil.
• The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding.
• Analyse and interpret data.
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.
• Undertake management/administration arising from research.
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader.
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters.
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Requirements

Candidates for this Cadbury Postdoctoral Fellowship will have the following qualifications

• Currently based on the African continent and employed by or affiliated with an African Higher Education Institution.
• Candidates must EITHER not currently hold a permanent academic position OR submit, with their application, a statement confirming that they will be released by their home institution for the period of their appointment.
• A doctorate examined and passed between 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2021.
• An appropriate record of research and publications
• A convincing and achievable research and publication proposal in the field of African Studies.
• Ability to contribute to undergraduate and Masters’ level teaching in African Studies, including introductory (year 1 undergraduate) teaching in African history.

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