"Senior Research Officer"

University of Essex - Department of Government

Location:	Colchester, Hybrid
Salary:	£38,249 to £40,497 per annum.
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Fixed-Term/Contract
Placed On:	24th February 2026
Closes:	31st March 2026
Job Ref:	REQ09807

Department
This placement is for one fixed-term, full-time Post-Doctoral Researcher (ASR-Senior Research Officer) in the Department of Government.

The Department of Government conduct world-leading research and provide opportunities for engaging with international networks in international relations and political science.

Duties of the Role
The post holder will contribute to delivering the research objectives defined by the ERC/UKRI-funded project Peacekeeping Dividends and Post-conflict Development (Dividends).

You will conduct, manage and analyse data on United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) peacekeeping missions, advise and implement multidimensional scaling methods to analyse data, co-ordinate and advise on project activities and outputs with academic and non-academic partners and be involved in research activities in the UK and project target countries.

This project examines peacekeeping dividends across a broad set of outcomes, evaluating policies that best leverage positive externalities of peacekeeping, bridging research on short-term peacekeeping and long-term peacebuilding objectives and large-N comparative and case studies. The project also includes collaborators based at the Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) and the Pardee Institute for International Features at the University of Denver).

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found within the job pack.

Qualifications and Skills required
The successful candidate is expected to hold a relevant doctoral level degree (PhD) in Political Science, International Relations/Conflict, or a related discipline.in an area related to the project aims, Political Science (or a related discipline).

You must have an interest in working with diverse data, multidimensional models, and geo-coded data. An interest in bridging qualitative research findings with administrative data and advanced quantitative methods. The project aims to combine granular case analysis with global level statistical data, complemented with simulations, carefully assembled in a multimethod research design. An expertise in language or languages other than English is required.

A full list of applicant requirements can be found under the Person Specification section within the job pack.

This is a fixed-term, full-time post from 1 September 2026 until 1 September 2028 to deliver a specific project, which is finite in nature.

At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.

Please use the 'Apply' button to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

Our website http://www.essex.ac.uk contains more information about the University of Essex. If you have a disability and would like information in a different format, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk.