Full-Time, Permanent Research Associate, Three-Year Research Assistant, and PhD Studentship Posts in Social Science/Humanities Study of Science and Religion, Coventry University

Diaspora: Full-Time, Permanent Research Associate, Three-Year Research Assistant, and PhD Studentship Posts in Social Science/Humanities Study of Science and Religion

We are looking to recruit four full-time permanent contract postdoctoral research associates to work on the ‘Clash Narratives in Context: Uncovering the Social and Cultural Drivers of Contemporary Science vs. Religion Debates’ project within the newly created University Research Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations. We welcome applications from experienced, enthusiastic and creative humanities and social science early career researchers.

This large scale multidisciplinary project will build an empirical and theoretical understanding of what social and cultural factors have driven, and are currently driving, the narrative in the public domain that there is a necessary clash between religious belief and belonging and acceptance of evolutionary science. It will employ four intersecting approaches: qualitative social science field research; oral history, historical and media discourse analysis; social psychology experimental research; and a large scale quantitative survey of public perceptions, attitudes and identity formation in the UK and Canada.

Post 1: Qualitative Social Sciences Research Associate
Post 2: History, Philosophy or Social Studies of Science Research Associate
Post 3: Social/Experimental or Psychology Postdoctoral Research Associate
Post 4: Quantitative social studies Postdoctoral Research Associate

Closing date: 28th April 2014
Interviews: 6th-9th May 2014

We are looking to recruit an experienced three-year research assistant to assist with the overall delivery, communication and management of the project.
Post 5: Project Research Assistant

Closing date: 28th April 2014
Interviews: 6th-9th May 2014

We are also looking to recruit two PhD studentships exploring contemporary debates surrounding ‘science and religion’ by undertaking relevant research in:
PhD 1: Social Sciences/Humanities;
PhD 2: Social/Experimental Psychology.

Closing date: 25 April 2014.
Interviews in May 2014.

In addition the university will offer two competitive two-year postdoctoral follow on research positions dependent on the successful submission of PhD thesis within three years/by September 2017 to enable successful PhD students to be retained and develop further as early career professionals in this field of research.

Coventry University will lead this 3-year research project funded by the Templeton Religion Trust in partnership with York University (Canada) and National Life Stories at the British Library and British Science Association. The research team is led by Principal Investigators Dr Fern Elsdon-Baker (Coventry) and Prof. Bernard Lightman (York, Canada), and Co-Investigators Dr Carola Leicht (Coventry) and Dr Rebecca Catto (Coventry). The project will commence 1st October 2014.

Applicants should apply online, making explicit reference to how they meet the person specification provided. Specific questions can be directed to Dr Fern Elsdon-Baker by email only (Fern.Elsdon-Baker@coventry.ac.uk)

—
Dr Rebecca Catto
Research Fellow, Centre for Social Relations, Coventry University
Convenor, British Sociological Association Sociology of Religion Study Group
Visiting Fellow, Faiths and Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RebeccaCatto