Research Fellow in ‘Creating an Alternative umma: Clerical Authority and Religio-political Mo

Job Purpose

• To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within the EU funded project ‘Creating an Alternative umma: Clerical Authority and Religio-political Mobilisation in Transnational Shii Islam’
• To investigate, in particular, the role of exilic and diasporic networks and their hubs (e.g. Kuwait, Damascus, London etc.) in the transnational mobilisation of Twelver Shii communities in the last 50 years

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines

Person Specification

Skills and Experience (as appropriate to the specific role and purpose)

• PhD on a topic related to thematic remit of the post (e.g. transnational religio-political activism in the contemporary Middle East) and very good command of Arabic
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes

Planning and Organising (as appropriate to the specific role and purpose)

• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort

Decision Making (as appropriate to the specific role and purpose)

• Decide in consultation with the principal investigator as appropriate, on the most appropriate way of undertaking the specified research activities
• Decide in consultation with the principal investigator as appropriate how to analyse and interpret the data from the specified research activities
• Decide in consultation with the principal investigator as appropriate what knowledge to draw on and how to apply it to develop new intellectual understanding
• Decide in collaboration with co-authors which aspects of the research findings to include in a presentation or a publication and how to convey the findings
• Give guidance, support and advice to students on research related work including PhD students and decide the most appropriate method of providing this supervision.

Internal/External Relationships (as appropriate to the specific role and purpose)

• Liaise with research staff and support staff on research-related matters
• Liaise with external collaborators on the research, where appropriate
• Give presentations and/or contribute to presentations at national and/or international conferences
• Maintain contact with (including membership of) appropriate professional bodies
• Liaise with the relevant external research community via seminars and conferences
• Participate in internal networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration
• Liaise with external clients of the University or members of the public