Research Assistant (Neil Davidson Writing Fellowship)

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Glasgow seeks a postdoctoral fellow for 6 months to support early career researchers in publishing work derived from their doctoral research. Candidates should have a completed PhD, preferably focusing on areas like Marxism or Scottish history. Excellent communication skills and research experience are essential. Salary ranges from £33,951 to £37,694 annually, with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

41 days of leave

Pension benefits

Health and wellbeing support

Engaging organisational culture

Qualifications

• PhD with focus on Marxism, bourgeois revolutions, or Scottish history.
• Must have research experience as an early career researcher.
• Experience presenting to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Responsibilities

• Complete a program of writing and submit for publication.
• Present work at conferences and workshops.
• Engage with communities related to research findings.
• Maintain an academic profile for outreach.

Skills

Comprehensive knowledge of relevant theoretical research

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Collegial approach to collaboration

Effective time management

Familiarity with IT packages

Self-motivation

Education

A completed PhD

Job description

Job Purpose

This postdoctoral writing fellowship has been established in recognition of Neil Davidson’s enduring work as historian, theorist, teacher and activist. The fellowship is intended to support early career researchers whose work is informed by, and seeks to extend, progressive and radical traditions of critical investigation broadly conceived, whether through the development of new historical or theoretical scholarship or through the pursuit of original empirical research.

The Fellowship will allow the recipient the time and space to publish material deriving from their doctoral thesis and to make the findings and conclusions of their work available to a wider audience, academic and/or non‑academic. Priority will be given to supporting those who do not, currently, hold an open‑ended academic position. We welcome applications from candidates regardless of where they are currently based but would draw attention to the fact that, regretfully, relocation expenses are not covered because of the short‑duration of this post.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• 1. Complete a programme of writing as outlined in your application, including submission for publication to refereed journals and/or the development of a monograph for publication with a reputable academic press.
• 2. Present your work, as appropriate, to international or national conferences, colloquia and workshops.
• 3. Make the findings of your research available to relevant external audiences and, as appropriate, engage with organisations and communities outside of the university in relation to your research findings.
• 4. Maintain Neil Davidson’s Academia.Edu site, updating as relevant with new publications, and responding to queries and communication.
• 5. Deliver a seminar as part of the Socialist Theory and Movements Research Network’s annual series.
• 6. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/ group/ meetings/ seminars/workshops across the research Group/School/College/University and wider community.

Knowledge/Qualifications

• A1 SCQF Level 10 [an undergraduate, Honours level degree] in a relevant discipline.
• A2 A completed PhD with a central research focus on one of the following areas: Marxism and Marxist theory; the concept and histories of bourgeois revolutions; the histories and present forms of class struggle; trade unionism, anti‑racism and other liberatory social movements; the causes, consequences and theorisation of uneven and combined development, and/or of neoliberalism; radical political economy; Scottish history and politics; nationalism and ethnicity; cultural and aesthetic analyses in the historical materialist tradition. Applicants should be within three years of receiving their PhD. Exceptionally, consideration will be given to those whose PhD was awarded outwith this timeframe if significant personal circumstances have affected the candidate’s capacity to work within that period.

Skills

• C1 Comprehensive and up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant theoretical, conceptual and historical research
• C2 Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience of public presentations and an ability to communicate complex concepts and findings clearly and concisely
• C3 A collegial approach to working with others
• C4 Effective time management and organisation
• C5 Familiarity with IT packages
• C6 Self‑motivation, and an ability to work independently and at your own initiative

Experience

• E1 Relevant research experience appropriate to an early career researcher
• E2 Experience of presenting research to a range of different audiences, both academic and non‑academic
• E3 A proven ability to complete work in a timely fashion
• E4 Evidence of a well‑defined and feasible programme of work for the duration of the Fellowship

Applicants should submit:

• i) an academic c.v.;
• ii) the abstract or summary of their doctoral thesis;
• iii) a 2 page outline of a proposed programme of work for the period of the Fellowship. Indicatively, this might include: summaries of 1 or 2 planned journal articles; an accepted book proposal or outline plans for such a proposal; projects for collaboration with social and political movements beyond the academy. It should also include a short statement explaining how their work fits with the purpose of the Fellowship as outlined above.

For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Professor Andrew Smith, [e-mail]

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,951 - £37,694 per annum.

This post is full time and fixed term for 6 months.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• 1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• 2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
• 3 A flexible approach to working.
• 4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6‑month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date : 8 January 2026 @23:45