Overview
Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of History – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
About us
King’s History department is an internationally recognised centre for the study of the history of the world. We are an intellectual home for scholars of every region of the world, who use approaches which range from local micro-histories to large-scale quantitative analysis. We particularly value conversation between scholars of different periods and places, with different approaches. We also value our connections beyond the world of scholarship, with strong relationships to our local communities, and to cultural and policy institutions on a national and global scale; impact is central to much of what we do.
About the role
‘The Digital Labour of Covid-19 Volunteerism’ is an oral history-driven project that explores the politics of digital health work undertaken by Covid-19 volunteers in contemporary India. Led by Dr Tarangini Sriraman, the project team includes two postdoctoral research associates. The objectives of the research include an evaluation of the following, (a) the politics of providing timely relief responses through digital applications during the pandemic lockdowns; (b) the role of gender, caste and class in shaping volunteers’ access to digital infrastructures of health; (c) the contemporary legacy of pandemic-driven health work in a digital landscape (d) India’s global claims of digital health infrastructures and their impact on grassroots health work, and vice-versa.
This is an entry level postdoctoral research associate position. Working collaboratively, the associate will interview volunteers across worksites of pandemic relief communication, online vaccination, and digital surveillance. The appointed person will bring their qualitative experience within health activism, health work, or the health policy field to this project.
The appointed person is expected to bring either oral history or ethnographic skills to this project. While not required to have Digital Humanities methods (eg. coding, archiving, data scraping, data visualisation, digital story-telling), they should be open to learning them where relevant to the project.
The appointed person will be required to carry out up to two months of fieldwork every year, produce their own and co-authored publications, co-organise one workshop, and contribute to the production of a podcast featuring Covid-19 volunteers.
King’s is a reputed institution in the research fields of health, digital humanities, and histories of South Asia.
This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2028.
Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.
About you
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria
- A PhD in Humanities or Social Sciences (preferably History, Anthropology, Gender Studies, Politics) or Public Health
- Training in qualitative research methods (for example, oral history or ethnography)
- Experience conducting fieldwork or archival work using either South Indian or North India languages
- Familiarity with health activism, health history or health policy in the Indian context (for example, field experience in the broad research fields of pandemics, communicable or non-communicable diseases, nutrition, or reproductive health)
- One research publication in Medical Humanities, Medical Social Sciences or Public Health
- Willingness to be part of a collaborative research team
Desirable criteria
- Experience working with minoritized groups
- Willingness to learn Digital Humanities methods such as (eg. coding, archiving, data scraping, data visualisation, digital story-telling),
- Willingness to produce both academic and non-academic research outputs
Downloading a copy of our Job Description
Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.
* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.
