"Postdoctoral Research Associates in Social/Political Psychology (2 Positions available)"

Department of Law and Criminology

Location

Egham

Salary

£39,233 per annum - including London Allowance

This is the expected starting salary for this post. Appointment at a higher point may be made for candidates who demonstrate exceptional skills and experience relevant to the role.

Post Type

Full Time

Closing Date

23.59 hours BST on Thursday 22 August 2024

Reference

0724-223

Right to work: Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. 

Full time, Fixed Term (3 years) 

Applications are invited for two posts of Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute for the Study of Power, Crime, and Society. We are seeking to appoint ambitious research scientists with high-level skills in quantitative research methods and a background in social/political psychology or cognate areas. The posts are available from October 1st 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter. Each appointment is for three years, subject to a review after the first year.  

Successful applicants will join the scientific team for the “Secret Power” project. The project, led by Prof. Giovanni Travaglino, was awarded a European Research Council Starting Grant and is funded by UK Research Innovation. It aims to transform the understanding of how individuals and communities from different areas respond to phenomena such as criminal governance, corruption, and the illegal exercise of power and authority. The project uses multiple quantitative methods and approaches, including experimental research, multilevel methodologies focusing on the characteristics of individuals and social/geographical contexts, and longitudinal studies addressing the dynamics of (il)legal socialisation in adolescence. Additional details about the project are available at www.secret-power.org. 

The project is conducted at the Institute for the Study of Power, Crime, and Society, housed at Royal Holloway, University of London. The Institute is a scientific hub for the interdisciplinary study of illegal, informal, and criminal dynamics of power in the broader social context. It has close links with the Departments of Psychology, Politics, and Economics at Royal Holloway and extensive international networks with research labs and groups in Europe, East Asia, and North America. 

The Posts

Successful applicants will be key to developing the research programme and achieving the project objectives. A central element of the posts will be leading one of the planned longitudinal studies. The objectives of these studies are to investigate the development of attitudes towards various forms of illegality, the acquisition of specific norms and values that may facilitate or impede the exercise of illicit power, and how views of state and non-state power change over time. The post holders will be responsible for contributing to the design and implementation of this aspect of the research, establishing and maintaining relationships with secondary schools for data collection, taking an active role in the conceptual development of the research tools, and supporting the team during data collection across sites. 

The ideal candidate will have a background in social or political psychology (or cognate areas) and expertise in areas such as corruption, collective action, morality, legitimacy or legal socialisation. High-level quantitative skills and strong knowledge of suitable statistical software (including, but not limited to, R) are a requirement for both posts. Experience with planning and conducting longitudinal studies and demonstrable knowledge of advanced longitudinal designs (e.g., random-intercept cross-lagged panel models) and mixed-effect models will be an advantage.

Successful applicants will have a track record of publications commensurate with their career stage and strong interpersonal and organisational skills. Fluency in Japanese will be an advantage for one of the posts.

Postholders will be full members of the project's scientific team. They will have the opportunity to get involved in cutting-edge research related to the other aspects of the project (including large multilevel studies and experimental research), engage with colleagues in an interdisciplinary and international environment and build relationships with external bodies. Postholders will be supported in identifying and developing a plan for personal research objectives linked to the project's main theme and areas.

Moreover, we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution 
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing. 
• Free parking 

The post is based in Egham, Surrey, where the College is situated on a beautiful, leafy campus near Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance of London. 

How to apply

Candidates are encouraged to contact Prof. Giovanni Travaglino for an informal discussion about the posts, at giovanni.travaglino@rhul.ac.uk.

Apply online to this post by clicking the “Apply Online” button below. Please submit a CV, respond to the application questions explaining your suitability for the post, and provide the details of two referees. For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk 

Please quote the reference: 0724-223

Closing Date:  23:59, 22 August 2024

Interview Date: To be confirmed (likely early September)