Job title: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
School/Unit: LLC – The Alwaleed Centre
Line manager: Director of the Alwaleed Centre

Job Purpose

To provide a two-year fixed-term early career development opportunity for a person recently qualified to PhD level in a relevant subject (i.e. within the last 3 years). The successful candidate will be expected to contribute both to the development of the Centre’s research profile as well as its teaching and outreach initiatives. The successful candidate will design and teach courses in the Department of Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies and/or other relevant departments as appropriate. This research position is designed to work in synergy with the current project on Mediterranean Islamisms let by the Director of the Centre.

Main Responsibilities

The post holder is expected to:

1. Contribute to the comparative project on Islamisms led by the Director of the Centre (30%)
2. Undertake research leading to the publication of two articles over the appointment period (30%)
3. Contribute to the Centre’s management and outreach activities (20%)
4. Design and teach at least one 20 credit semester-long course per year (15%)
5. Any other duties as requested by Alwaleed Centre Director (5%)

Planning and Organising

The postholder is expected to:

• contribute to long-term projects, as part of a project team
• conduct fieldwork abroad to gather empirical data for the project
• lead short-term projects such as conferences on a particular theme
• provide assistance with events (locally, nationally and internationally) with minimal supervision

Problem Solving

The postholder is expected to:

• identify gaps in knowledge and searching for sources of information to fill these
• use professional expertise and judgement
• employ diplomacy (including religious, cultural and political sensitivity)
• exercise good judgement of possibilities and risks

Decision Making

The postholder is expected to:

• demonstrate autonomous decision-making in consultation with the Centre’s Director
• have confidence in setting priorities and taking responsibility for decision-making
• provide specialist advice and recommendations to support effective decision-making
• participate in monthly team meetings within the Centre to determine future priorities and activities

Key Contacts/Relationships

• Primarily with the Director of the Centre and the members associated with the Alwaleed Centre
• Academic units across the university
• Media organisations, national and international institutions, religious communities and their leaders
• Other Alwaleed Centres in the UK, the USA, and the Middle East

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job

Essential

• A recent PhD on a relevant topic
• Evidence of quality research outputs
• Ability to analyse and interpret empirical data
• Good communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good time management skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to prioritise tasks and conflicting deadlines
• Diplomacy, including religious, cultural and political sensitivity
• Evidence of commitment to excellence in teaching

Desirable

• Experience in explaining research to a wide variety of audiences, both within and beyond a university context.
• Knowledge of a relevant language (e.g. Arabic, Turkish, etc.)
• Experience of working with the media
• Experience in designing material for websites

Dimensions

The postholder will be a member of the Alwaleed Centre team, of 6 colleagues, consisting of the Director; Deputy Director, General Manager; Outreach Coordinator; Centre Lecturer and Post-Doctoral Fellow.

Job Context and any other relevant information

The HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World is a Centre within the University of Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre is committed to encouraging a better understanding of Islam and Islamic Culture through ground-breaking research and innovative outreach projects. The Edinburgh Centre is part of a unique network of Centres at prestigious universities around the world; four in the UK and the USA (Edinburgh, Cambridge, Harvard, Georgetown) and two in the Middle East (Cairo and Beirut). For more information visit: www.alwaleed.ed.ac.uk. www.alwaleed.ed.ac.uk.

The aim of this post is to provide an early career opportunity for a person recently qualified to PHD level, in a relevant subject. The external funding for this post aims ‘to produce on a self-sustaining basis, a world class cadre of researchers at post-doctoral levels, by providing fellowships designed to feed into the next generation of academics”. For this reason, the post is time-limited to 2 years and an extension will not be possible.

International travel may be expected.

Informal queries are welcome and should be sent via email for the attention of Professor Frederic Volpi, Alwaleed Director, Personal Chair of the Politics of the Muslim World, to [email protected]

The School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to addressing an equalities, diversity and inclusion agenda.

Application Procedure

All applicants should apply online by clicking the apply link at the bottom of this page. The application process is quick and easy to follow, and you will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your application. The online system allows you to submit a CV and other attachments.

You will be notified by email whether you have been shortlisted for interview or not.

The closing date is 5pm (GMT) on 29th April 2019.

Eligibility to Work
In accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 and Immigration Act 2016 the University of Edinburgh, as an employer, has a legal responsibility to prevent illegal working and therefore must check that all employees are entitled to work in the United Kingdom (UK).
To do so, the University requires to see original documents evidencing right to work in the UK before commencement of employment and this is normally carried out at interview. Details will be provided in any letter of invitation to interview.

For further information on eligibility to work please visit our eligibility to work webpage

If you are from outside the EEA and not currently eligible to work in the UK, there are visa routes that may be available to you, for example:

• Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent): If you are an academic in the field of sciences; humanities; engineering; medicine; digital technology; or the arts, it may be possible for you to apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa. This route requires you to apply to be endorsed as an internationally recognised leader or emerging leader in your particular field by a designated competent body (Arts Council England, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Tech City UK). However, if you are applying for a senior academic role, e.g. Professor/Reader there is an accelerated route to endorsement. Further information can be found on the UKVI website

• Tier 2: The University is a UKVI licensed sponsor and is able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to successful candidates who are offered highly skilled roles and meet the eligibility criteria. The CoS enables candidates to apply for a Tier 2 (general visa).

Further information about whether you require a visa and other visa routes can be found at: www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Conditions of Employment

Pension Scheme

This role is grade UE07 and therefore the post holder is automatically included in membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subject to the USS membership criteria, unless they indicate that they choose not to join the Scheme.

For further information please visit our Pensions website.

Salary

The role is grade UE07 and attracts an annual salary of £۳۳,۱۹۹ to £۳۹,۶۰۹ for 35 hours each week. Salary is paid monthly by direct transfer to your Bank or Building Society account, normally on the 28th of the month. Salaries for part-time staff are calculated on the full-time scales, pro-rata to the Standard Working Week.

The University reserves the right to vary the candidate information or make no appointment at all. Neither in part, nor in whole does this information form part of any contract between the University and any individual.