Postdoctoral Research Associate (Finland focused)

Loughborough University – School of Social Sciences and Humanities - Geography and Environment

Package: Specialist and Supporting Academic Research grade 6 from £35,608 to £46,049 per annum. Subject to annual pay review.

Full-time and fixed term for 42 months starting 1st September 2026, Hybrid

Join us and be part of a vibrant community at Loughborough University.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for:

The Department of Geography and Environment at Loughborough University is seeking to appoint a Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to work on a project entitled ‘Geographies of example: Finding the example within the exception and beyond (GeoEx)’. The project is funded through a Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Award to Loughborough University. The research is led by Dr Azmeary Ferdoush and encompasses the fields of Geography, Sociology, Politics, and Anthropology.

The post will be based at Loughborough University but will entail ethnographic research in Finland and short trips to other field sites in the UK and Bangladesh.

The successful applicant will:

• be an experienced researcher with a PhD in Geography, Sociology, Politics, Anthropology or other cognate disciplines
• have excellent English-language (along with other languages mentioned in the desirable criteria)
• have excellent interpersonal skills
• have experience of conducting and analysing semi-structured interviews with protection seekers and/or other marginalised communities.

The successful candidate will play a full role in the design, execution, and dissemination of the project.

About the University

Universities are one of this country’s greatest assets. We’re educators, employers, innovators and pioneers. We shape culture and society.

At Loughborough, we strive for better, think differently, challenge convention and take action. We are passionate about finding solutions to the major problems faced by society and the planet, and we create opportunities for those with the drive, the ambition, and the determination to apply themselves in the pursuit of better.

About the Department

The Department of Geography and Environment at Loughborough University is consistently ranked among the top ten in the UK. More about the Department can be found here

Why should you Apply?

With huge amount of variety in the role, there is an opportunity for you to develop and continually grow.

If this sounds like the right place, team and role for you please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

Informal enquiries should be made by email Dr Azmeary Ferdoush, Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, m.ferdoush@lboro.ac.uk.

For more information refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.

Application Process

As part of your application you will need:

i) a full CV including list of publications,

ii) a supporting statement that clearly demonstrate, using examples, how you meet each of the "essential" and as many of the "desirable" criteria as possible (maximum 12,000 characters including space), and

iii) a Research Vision stating your plans for conducting the research both independently and as part of the wider project (maximum 6,000 characters including space).

Please note that your CV and Research Vision will need to be uploaded as one document while the online portal will give a sperate space for writing the supporting statement.

For further support with your application, please refer to our application guidance, which includes some top tips to help you when completing your application.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. If there are additional adjustments, you’d like to request please contact Dr Azmeary Ferdoush. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

Staff from under-represented groups in higher education and the discipline, including those from racialised minorities, who have a physical or invisible disability, or are neurodivergent, are particularly encouraged to apply. The University is a Disability Confident employer, a member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion Scheme and holds Race Equality Charter and Athena SWAN bronze awards.

Closing Date: 17 May 2026

Interview Date: between mid to late June 2026

Our Benefits

At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:

Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme.

Where you work - access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Financial Wellbeing -competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities.

Support for you and those close to you -through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.

Health and Wellbeing - discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support.

Travel and sustainability- access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting.

Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.