"Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Science Transformations of Biosecurity"

Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Science Transformations of Biosecurity

School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY

Join a pioneering European Research Council Advanced Grant project reshaping how biosecurity is understood and practised. BIOSSCI: Social Science Transformations of Biosecurity develops innovative, socially grounded approaches to disease threats affecting animal and human health — learning from those who manage biological risks in everyday settings rather than relying solely on top-down models.

Working with Professor Stephen Hinchliffe, you will design and deliver research examining UK farm animal health and biosecurity policy and practice. Through in-depth engagement with farmers, veterinarians, policymakers and scientists, you will build an account of how animal health is organised and enacted in practice. This work will contribute to a wider comparative programme with collaborators in Bangladesh and South Africa, generating new conceptual and methodological approaches to biosecurity governance.

You will hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil, and bring strong qualitative research experience, including fieldwork, interviews, participant observation and qualitative data analysis. You will be confident managing your own research activities, contributing to high-quality publications, and working collaboratively within an international team. Excellent communication skills and a commitment to inclusive and respectful research environments are essential.

This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to an internationally significant research programme and help shape new directions in the social science of biosecurity.

This post is fixed term for 3 years with the possibility for an extension and offered on a full time basis (1 FTE / 37.5 hours)

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ well-being, and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter with a supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. In your supporting statement, please explain how you meet each of the selection criteria found in the job description, and why you would like to do this role. See guidance at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/cv-and-supporting-statement.

Any technical questions related to this vacancy can be sent to: recruit@ouce.ox.ac.uk

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on 6 March 2026. Only applications submitted by this time will be considered. Interviews to be held on 20 March 2026.

The University of Oxford and The School of Geography and the Environment are Silver Athena SWAN holders. Applications are particularly welcome and encouraged from women, black, and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in posts in The School of Geography and the Environment. The School of Geography and the Environment are committed to equality and values diversity