Postdoctoral Research Associate in Catholic Social Thought and Practice (Job Number: 25000616)
Department of Theology and Religion
Grade 7: - £38,249 to £45,413 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 3 years/36 months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 04-Jul-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A good first degree in an appropriate subject.
• A PhD (or be close to submission) in an appropriate subject.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
• Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
• Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national/international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
• Experience in working with grassroots organisations or equivalent.

SKILLS

• Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a range of audiences and a range of media.

EXPERIENCE

• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
• A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
• Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.
• Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.
• Experience in collaboration between academic and other practice-based contexts.

SKILLS

• Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.

THE ROLE AND DEPARTMENT

Durham’s Department of Theology and Religion is one of the very best UK departments in this field, with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. It is held in high esteem across the globe, as reflected in the QS World Reputation rankings, which placed Durham’s department as 6th worldwide based on its most recent survey in 2023. In January 2024, in recognition of its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion the department was awarded the Athena Swan Silver Award by Advance HE.
The Department of Theology and Religion currently comprises 33 academic teaching staff, 15 research staff and 10 professional support staff. We currently have a large cohort of undergraduate students (around 75 per year group) studying on 3 programmes, including the BA in Religion, Society and Culture, and over 200 postgraduate students, studying on MA, PhD and DThM (professional doctorate in theology and ministry) programmes.
The Department has three overlapping areas of academic expertise:
Biblical Studies (including Hebrew Bible, New Testament, early Christianity, and early Judaism);
Christian Theology (including historical and contemporary theology, philosophy, and ethics);
Study of Religion (including the empirical study of contemporary religion and its contexts of practice).
The Department enjoys many cross-departmental and interdisciplinary links around the University, including with the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, as well as a strong, collaborative relationship with the theological institutions based in and around Durham (e.g. Cranmer Hall).
With its home in Abbey House, right next to Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO world Heritage site, it is a beautiful and immensely exciting place to study and to research in Theology and Religion.
For more information, please visit our Department pages at www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/theology-religion/
The Department is also home to a number of research centres, including the Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) (https://www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion/ccs/). The CCS, established in October 2007, is a unique body: a major research and teaching centre explicitly focussed on the study of Catholic Theology and Catholic Studies more widely (including the empirical study of Catholicism, Catholic social thought and practice, the history of Catholicism, Franciscan Studies, and the cultural impact of Catholicism).

THE ROLE

The Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University, in partnership with the Society of the Sacred Heart, invites applications for a 36-month Fellowship in Catholic Social Thought and Practice.
The successful applicant will be expected to work on a research topic of their own choosing in the area of Catholic Social Thought and Practice (CSTP) as agreed with the Director of the Centre for Catholic Studies and Professor Anna Rowlands. Proposals could include exploring fundamental philosophical/theological/anthropological questions pertaining to the development of CST, or exploring CST in relation to specific topics, such as work/employment, human migration, incarceration and the criminal justice system, democracy/populism, Artificial Intelligence, integral ecology, war/peace, or the structural response to poverty. (This is an indicative not an exhaustive list of possible topics.)
The post is designed for further development of an early career scholar in both traditional academic patterns (research, publication and where appropriate for the successful candidate’s career development, the possibility for some teaching), and also in working in a more outward facing mode offering theological accompaniment to a relevant organisation, association or movement that has direct practitioner interests in the area of CSTP.
The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with Professor Anna Rowlands, the St Hilda Professor in Catholic Social Thought and Practice, and will have a link to the Centre for Catholic Social Thought and Practice ( www.ccstp.org.uk ).
The post holder will be fully involved in the life and work of Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) through such means as: regular participation in and contribution to the Durham Catholic Theology Research Seminar, and other such lectures, conferences, and public events organised by the CCS; participation in CCS Research Conversations, and the annual Friends’ and Benefactors’ event.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
• To participate in the events of the Centre for Catholic Studies and the Centre for Catholic Social Thought and Practice.
• To assist in theological accompaniment work for one or more relevant practice-based organisations, as agreed with and under the supervision of the Principal Investigator.
  This post is fixed term for 36 months; the funding is available from 1 September 2025 for this fixed period only; the project is time limited and will end on 31 August 2028.
  The post-holder is employed to work on a research project of their choosing as agreed with the Director of the Centre for Catholic Studies and Professor Anna Rowlands and under the supervision of Professor Anna Rowlands. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.
  Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1 October 2025.