Postdoctoral Research Associate - Grade 7

University of Liverpool - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences / School of Histories, Languages and Cultures / Department of History

Placed On: 9th April 2026
Closes: 7th May 2026
Job Ref: 108514

Applicants are invited to apply for the position of Postdoctoral Research Associate: History of Conservation and Animal Health to work on the project ‘Conserving Global Health: Biodiversity Protection and the Prehistory of Planetary Health’, which is funded by a Wellcome Trust Career Development Award and hosted in the Department of History. Conserving Global Health is led by the Principal Investigator Dr Jules Skotnes-Brown. In addition to this post, the project team includes a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the History of Conservation and Earth Systems’ Health.

Conserving Global Health will provide the first major investigation of how species, landscape, and biodiversity conservation became global health strategies, and their health consequences for humans, animals, plants, and microbes in the long twentieth century (1890s-2020s). The project team will explore the historical engagements, collaborations and frictions between conservation theories and practices and international, global, and Planetary Health in the long twentieth century. We will uncover some of the historical roots of the present global ecological crisis, offer warnings from the past about the health consequences of environmental degradation, and make contributions to the medical humanities, environmental history, and global history.

The project team will develop an innovative approach which will consider humans, animals, ecosystems, and planetary systems in an integrated framework. In so doing, we will provide a critical prehistory of the modern field of Planetary Health, placing conservation theories and practices at the centre of its development.

WP3: History of Conservation and Earth Systems’ Health

WP3 will examine the history of conservation and climate change, focusing particularly on the scientific history of the idea of ecosystems, plants, oceans, and forests as “carbon sinks” that store carbon and cleanse the earth of anthropogenic activities. Through focusing on the scientific history of the concept of a “carbon sink”, as well as the environmental history of specific carbon sink(s), WP3 will explore how landscape preservation became a prophylactic against climate change, and its social, political, and economic impacts from local to global scales.

You will work on WP3. You will be based in the Department of History at the University of Liverpool. You will have a research background in the history of science, STS, environmental history, or cognate disciplines. You must have an excellent understanding of the global history of science, experience working in archives, and ideally training or experience in oral history.

Application process

In addition to the online application form, please provide:

• CV
• Covering letter explaining how your past research is suitable for the role, and your envisioned contributions to the Department of History
• 1-2-page research proposal outlining a programme of research into the history of conservation and carbon sinks.
• Sample of written work of around 10,000 words (e.g., a journal article or thesis chapter)
• The names of two referees

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30. Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

For full details and to apply online, please click on the apply button above.