The University is dedicated to supporting an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment - to create better futures, together. The diverse backgrounds, characteristics and opinions within our community are our great strength and are key to our pursuit of delivering educational excellence, enterprise, research and professional services. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and minoritized groups as they are currently under-represented within our community.
We recognise the value of a fulfilling and balanced work and personal life which promotes wellbeing. We seek to support colleagues in achieving this balance and have family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements and many roles can be suitable for dynamic working arrangement. This includes considering applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.
We are proud to be a Real Living Wage Employer—so much so that we go beyond the standard, providing additional supplementary payments at specific pay points to further support our employees' financial wellbeing. Further information about the Loughborough Real Living Wage Supplement can be found on our HR webpage.
Loughborough University is a UKVI Sponsor. Some individuals may require sponsorship to enable them to apply for a visa to provide them with the right to work in the UK. Please note certain roles are not eligible for sponsorship. For further information and eligibility please visit the UKVI website.
School of Social Sciences
Fixed Term for 18 Months Commencing January 2020
The Department of Social Sciences is seeking to appoint a Research Associate to work with Dr Vaclav Stetka (PI) and Professor Sabina Mihelj (Co-I) on a new ESRC-funded research project "The Illiberal Turn? News Consumption, Political Polarization, and Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe". Combining survey data, digital tracking of media consumption, as well as media diaries and qualitative interviews, the project will carry out a systematic study of news consumption and political polarization in Poland, Czechia, Hungary and Serbia, at a key point in time when the region is witnessing the rise of populist leaders, resurgence of illiberal nationalism, and a shift towards authoritarian forms of government.
This Research Associate will assist with qualitative data collection, analysis and management. Apart from taking an active part in designing interviews and media diaries, the successful candidate will collect the data from one of the four countries covered by the project and assist the Co-I with the comparative analysis of qualitative data from all four countries. The researcher will also support the PI and the Co-I with the integrative analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, co-author some of the publications, and contribute to impact activities and events. Proficiency in English and one of the local languages (Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Serbian) is essential.
The successful applicant for this post will be an experienced researcher with postgraduate training in sociology, media/communication studies, cultural studies, anthropology or another related social science or humanities discipline, (PhD, or very close to completion), and with experience in qualitative social science methodologies, such as interviews and/or diaries. Demonstrable knowledge of media, politics and society in one or more Central and Eastern European countries covered by the project is also expected.
Informal enquiries should be made by email to Professor Sabina Mihelj, S.Mihelj@lboro.ac.uk
Application Closing Date: 26 September 2019
Interviews (including presentation) will be held on: 7 October 2019
Please follow this link for further details.
