Post doctoral research assistant - Global cultures of risk project (BL0049)

Applications are invited for a full-time post-doctoral research assistantship of three years duration, commencing 1st October 2018 or as soon after this date as possible. 

The successful applicant will join a team at the Hull University Business School, under the direction of Professor Robin Pearson (the PI), to assist on “Global Cultures of Risk: Insurance in Non-Western Contexts 1870-1980”, which is a joint University of Hull-University of Basel research project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

The aim of this project is to investigate how institutional conditions and cultural attitudes to risk shaped the expansion of insurance in non-western markets from the late 19th to the late 20th centuries, including the impact of religious beliefs and social norms, legal and political regimes, business models and corporate strategies. 

The post holder will assist the PI on the research for the Hull part of this project, namely “Orientalist attitudes vs. local norms. The diffusion and reception of insurance in Asia (1870–1970)”. You will contribute to project meetings, attend conferences and assist the PI with the preparation of high-impact publications. You will also work as part of an international team involving collaboration with the parallel research group at the University of Basel, directed by Professor Martin Lengwiler (Department of History).

You will have a recent PhD in history, economics or a related subject. Experience of insurance-related subjects and insurance archives is not necessary, as the PI will give training in this area. Knowledge of relevant Asian languages, such as Mandarin, would be an advantage but is not essential. 

The post holder will assist the PI in research on the development of life and/or non-life insurance in either China or India during the period 1870-1980. This will include the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from primary sources in both public and private/corporate archives in the UK and abroad, under the close supervision of the PI. The position requires good communication, writing and filing skills, and a basic working knowledge of Ms Excel.

To discuss this role informally, please contact Robin Pearson, tel. +44 (0)1482 466301, email: r.pearson@hull.ac.uk 

For information about Hull University Business School, visit www.hull.ac.uk/faculties/fblp/hubs.aspx 

Closing Date: 11 Oct 2018
Category: Academic