Postdoctoral Researcher

This is an exciting opportunity for a post-doctoral researcher to join a research project, funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, examining the links between international mobility and world development. Reporting to Prof Maia Chankseliani, the post-holder will join a team of six enthusiastic, interdisciplinary researchers based at the University of Oxford Department of Education. The post holder will possess familiarity with the Western Hemisphere (in particular, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Panama), and will lead on the data collection, searches, analysis, and presentation of findings on the Western Hemisphere and, if required, on other regions. They will also work on extensive searches of secondary sources, conduct elite interviews online and engage in conducting systematic literature reviews, as well as independently develop a holistic understanding of the designated global region (Western Hemisphere) in order to be able to meaningfully contextualise and interpret numeric and narrative findings pertaining to the selected region.

The post-holder will be responsible for managing their own workload and administrative activities and work closely with the team at Oxford and collaborators in the United States. This involves small scale project management as well as co-ordinating multiple aspects of work with other team members to meet deadlines. They will also adapt existing methodologies, concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding of the systemic impact of international mobility of students, professionals, and youth, and develop working theories and analyse qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources, reviewing and refining theories as appropriate. There will be opportunities to write papers for international peer-reviewed journals and to present papers at conferences and meetings.

The successful candidate will hold a relevant PhD/DPhil or be nearing completion, and possess familiarity with the existing literature and research in at least one of the following fields/disciplines: international higher education, comparative and international education, international development, development economics, political science, history, or sociology. They will have the capability to independently manage a discrete area of a research project, conduct qualitative research, successfully manage competing demands, and work collaboratively with others. They must also be fluent in Spanish, and possess excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research team at meetings.  Publication record will be in line with career stage.

The post is fixed-term until 30 April 2025 and is offered on a full-time basis.

The post is based in Oxford, UK, and the successful candidate will be required to start the role in Oxford on 7th November 2022, or soon after.

Any questions regarding the post can be sent via email to Professor Maia Chankseliani maia.chankseliani@education.ox.ac.uk.

Applications for this vacancy should be made online and you will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your application, explaining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this post.

For further details of the role, please see the job description. The closing date for applications is midday on Monday 24th October 2022, and only applications received by this deadline will be considered. Interviews will be held soon after the closing date.