Early Career Researcher (PhD funded) - Birmingham Law School - 106581 - Grade 7

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Birmingham is seeking an Early Career Researcher to analyze legal discrepancies under authoritarian regimes as part of a funded PhD studentship. This role includes developing research objectives, contributing to funding bids, and disseminating findings. Applicants must possess a relevant degree and meet specific residency criteria. The position offers a full-time, fixed term contract until August 2029.

Qualifications

• Eligible candidates must have a relevant degree for doctorate.
• Cannot have completed more than four years of full-time research.
• Must not have lived or worked in the UK for over 12 months in the last 3 years.

Responsibilities

• Develop research objectives and proposals.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding.
• Analyse and interpret data.
• Disseminate research findings for publication.

Skills

High level analytical capability

Ability to communicate complex information clearly

Fluency in relevant models

Ability to assess resource requirements

Coordination of own work

Education

Degree that formally allows starting a doctorate

Job description

Position Details

Birmingham Law School

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Fixed salary of £51,602

Grade: 7 (Spot)

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to August 2029

Closing date: 31st January 2026

UK and International travel will be required for this role

Background

The role will be salaried as an Early Career Researcher and will include a fully funded PhD studentship as part of the appointment.

This post forms part of an international multi-site programme with the title: Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia (SOCIAL), which is based at the University of Lund. It is funded under the auspices of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Doctoral Networks. The Principal Investigator at Birmingham University is Prof Chris Thornhill (School of Law). This post is focused on analyzing discrepancies between public reform narratives and actual legal outcomes under authoritarian elites. The appointee will assess the contradictory nature of legal reforms in Central Asia and will examine how some reforms aim to entrench authoritarian rule through constitutional engineering, while others introduce mechanisms aligned with international standards—such as administrative courts and accountability structures.

The appointee will create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an established research programme.

Role Summary

• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids
• Operate within area of specialism
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Contribute to generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• The successful candidates will be required to work in a team, to travel to conferences and network training events, and to take part in an academic and non-academic secondment abroad
• All Doctoral Candidates are required to undertake two secondments abroad, one academic and one non-academic, of between two and six months duration
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

Fully Funded MSCA PhD Positions Essential Criteria for applicants:

• To be eligible, Doctoral Candidates must have obtained a degree which formally entitles them to start a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited
• In addition, Doctoral Candidates cannot have been awarded a doctoral degree and/or completed more than four years of full-time equivalent research experience
• Doctoral Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (i.e. work, studies) in the hosting country for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date
• The successful candidates will be required to work in a team, to travel to conferences and network training events, and to take part in an academic and non-academic secondment abroad
• All Doctoral Candidates are required to undertake two secondments abroad, one academic and one non-academic, of between two and six months duration

For further information on eligibility criteria and on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks in general, please refer to: Doctoral Networks - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

University of Birmingham Essential skills and knowledge requirements:

• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

How to Apply

Prospective applicants should submit an online application including the following documents:

• Personal statement outlining how you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description. This can either be completed within the online application form or uploaded as a separate document
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Research proposal indicating how you would contribute to the project within the parameters outlined above
• Transcript of grades

Informal enquiries to Chris Thornhill, email: [e-mail]

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