CAMHRA Postdoctoral Research Fellow x2

SOAS, University of London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

44 days holiday

Flexible working

Pension scheme

Learning and development

Health and well-being initiatives

Enhanced family leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

SOAS University of London invites applications for two CAMHRA Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions in Religion, Culture, and Mental Health. Based in the Anthropology and Sociology department, these fixed-term 1-year posts (Jan 2027–Dec 2027) aim to advance ethnographic work within Ethnos-MH, led by Bhrigupati Singh and Swayam Bagaria.

Successful candidates will work under supervision, contribute to design, execution, and mentoring, and clarify whether UK or India region aligns with their

Qualifications

• Exceptional early-career academics with doctoral and/or postdoctoral training in anthropology, religion and mental health.
• Experience mentoring and contributing to ethnographic training programs.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and mentoring segments of the Ethnos-MH training program.
• Oversee either the UK or India segment of Ethnos MH, depending on research and mentoring expertise.

Job description

Job title: CAMHRA Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Religion, Culture, and Mental Health x2

Department: Anthropology and Sociology

Contract Type: Fixed-term contract for 1 year (January 2027 – December 2027)

Grade: 7

Salary: £44,073.57 - £51,483.57 - per annum inclusive of London Allowance. Salary offers will be made at a point on the salary scale, based on the skills and experience of the appointed candidate)

Location: Bloomsbury, London

Hours: Full time- 35 hours

SOAS University of London is the leading Higher Education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East. SOAS University of London is positioned to play a leadingrole in reimagining higher education globally, with a new strategic plan in place as the basis for the renewal and revitalisation of the School which commits SOAS to both student responsiveness and research intensity. SOAS is moving towards a new model of international partnerships which is responsive to the transnational character of our global challenges.

About the Role

Ethnos-MH, funded by the John Templeton Foundation seeks to recruit two Postdoctoral Research Fellows for Ethnos-MH, a novel, global Religion and Spirituality (R/S) competency program based on ethnographic methods for mental health professionals, which will be piloted in the United States, United Kingdom, and India. This project is led by Bhrigupati Singh (SOAS, CAMHRA) and Swayam Bagaria (Harvard Divinity School).

The two postdoctoral fellows at SOAS will work directly under the supervision of Singh. Each postdoctoral fellow will respectively oversee either the India or the UK segment of Ethnos MH. In your application, please make it clear in which of these two regions your research and mentoring expertise is located.

These positions are intended to support exceptional early-career academics, with existing anthropological training at doctoral and/or postdoctoral level in anthropology, religion and mental health. The fellows will be directly involved in the design, execution, and mentoring segments of the Ethnos-MH training program.

More information about the project is available here: https://www.templeton.org/grant/developing-a-global-training-program-in-ethnographic-methods-to-enhance-r-s-competencies-for-mental-health-professionals-ethnos-mh

About the Department

The Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research in Action (CAMHRA) is a globally oriented and locally connected Centre of excellence for cutting edge anthropological research, education and public engagement in the field of mental health. It works to promote research on critical issues of inequality in access, experience and outcomes of mental health care with benefits for marginalised groups in the London area and cascading effects at national and global levels, and with special emphasis on mental health lived-experience and clinical practice-based research, and coproduced research outputs.

About you

You can find further information on the key criteria for the role in the Job Description and Person Specification, along with a full list of duties and responsibilities, which can be found on the SOAS website

What We Offer:

We are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to enhance your well-being and work-life balance:

• Generous Holiday Entitlement:Benefit from 44 days of holiday (30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and 5closure days over Christmas and Easter) to ensure ample time for rest and relaxation.
• Flexible Working Arrangements:We recognise the importance of flexibility and offer options to help you manage your professional and personal commitments effectively.
• Generous occupational pension scheme:To provide financial security for your future
• Learning and Development: We are dedicated to your professional growth and development and offer diverse learning and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Health and Well-being Initiatives:Take advantage of our cycle to work scheme, eye tests, and season ticket loan to support your health and mobility.
• Enhanced Family Leave:We offer enhanced maternity, paternity & partner leave, and shared parental leave to support you during significant life events.
• Employee Assistance Programme:Access our confidential EAP for advice and support whenever needed.
• Discounted Gym Membership:Maintain your fitness with our discounted gym membership.

Use of AI

While AI tools can be beneficial, we value the personal touch and authenticity in job applications. We encourage you to highlight your unique experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, ensuring all information is accurate. Please use AI tools responsibly and with integrity throughout the application and selection process.

Further information

Please note that the application system does not currently have a save-and-return feature. To avoid losing any information, we strongly encourage you to complete and submit your application in one sitting. Make sure you have all necessary details ready before you begin.

Successful candidates will need to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK or have limited leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with SOAS, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates from working class, first generation Higher Education, Black, Asian, other minority ethnic and underrepresented groups from within the UK and beyond. All appointment decisions will be made on merit, following a fair and competitive process.