Research Associate (Fixed-Term) (DC4899)

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath. The post-holder will work under the supervision of Dr Jason Hart on a collaborative project with colleagues from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering. The EPSRC-GCRF funded project, entitled Healthy Housing for the Displaced, entails fieldwork in refugee camps in Jordan and in a number of other countries (to be determined) that are differentiated by climatic and socio-cultural conditions. The central aim of the project is to develop a science of shelter design that guides the creation of housing for displaced people suited to the specific location. 

The Postdoctoral Research Associate role will be to lead on the conduct of research that attends to the socio-cultural, political and economic considerations that should guide shelter design. Fieldwork will involve interviews with humanitarian agency staff, government officials and the residents of camps. The role will also entail examination of the literature on (a) the sociology, history and politics of refugee shelter and (b) the specific case study camps and the nations in which they are sited. 

Candidates must have a PhD (or equivalent qualification) in Sociology, Anthropology, Human Geography, Political Science, Political-Economy or a cognate discipline, with strong qualitative research skills and sound knowledge of quantitative analysis. Experience of research related to housing and / or displacement, and the willingness to travel regularly are also essential.

The successful candidate will be part of a research team at Bath composed of around 10 academic members of staff and four research officers, the majority of whom will be in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Enthusiasm for inter-disciplinary working is therefore vital. 

This post is offered on a full time, fixed-term basis with an expected end date of 30th April 2020. 

Please contact Jason Hart (jh462@bath.ac.uk) should you wish to discuss this post before applying.

Closing Date: 15 Jun 2017
Type: Education & Research