Postdoctoral Research Associate -Relational Harm Project - Social and Legal Studies

King's College London; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established academic institution is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Social and Legal Studies to explore the complex issues of relational harm in the context of war and oppression. This role offers the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research focusing on family separation and its implications, utilizing qualitative methods across diverse case studies. You will work collaboratively with a dynamic team and contribute to impactful research that addresses critical social issues. This position not only promises intellectual growth but also the chance to make a significant difference in understanding the human cost of conflict.

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant fields with a focus on social and legal studies.
• Experience in qualitative research methods and field research.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to field research and write research papers for peer-reviewed journals.
• Oversee and conduct field research in contemporary case studies.

Skills

Qualitative Research Methods

Field Research Experience

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

Education

PhD in Social and Legal Studies

PhD in Transitional Justice

PhD in International Law

Tools

Archival Research Skills

Website Management Skills

Job description

About us

The School of Security Studies at King's College London is dedicated to the understanding of security issues in an increasingly complex and uncertain world. Harnessing the depth and breadth of expertise across the War Studies and Defence Studies Departments, and the King's Institute for Applied Security Studies, we are one of the largest multi-disciplinary communities of scholars in the world engaged in the teaching and research of all aspects of conflict, war, security and defence.

About the role

We welcome applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Social and Legal Studies to work on the project Relational Harm: Targeting the Family in War and Oppression . The PI is Dr Rebekka Friedman, and the project is an ERC-funded Consolidator Grant. The PDRA position is for a 30-month duration starting in January 2026 and will be based in the Department of War Studies at King's College London.

The project examines 'relational harm', defined in the project as harm that individuals and communities experience through the targeting and control of their intimate relationships. The project will focus on the forced separation of families as a significant form of relational harm, particularly in the context of state enforced disappearances. It will examine the impact of forced separation on families and communities and will assess why states carry out forced separation during war and counterinsurgency. The project will focus on lived experiences and the wider ongoing political, social, economic, and psychological legacies of relational harm and ambiguous loss. It will look at gendered and intergenerational dimensions and will examine family and family life as fundamental to the waging and experience of war.

The project is interdisciplinary and will utilize mixed methods. The project will have three contemporary case studies: Sri Lanka, Peru, and the Rohingya community (in Bangladesh). The project will also involve archival research into family separation and reunification in the World War Two period.

The PDRA in Social and Legal Studies will contribute to the project's conceptual pillars and to its field research. The PDRA in Social and Legal Studies will work on understanding evolving global judicial and non-judicial responses to forced separation and the removal of children from their families and communities. This will involve looking at the right to family and family life and how these protections are embedded into global practices. The PDRA will also study practices of family reunification, including the work of the ICRC.

Each PDRA will also oversee and conduct field research in one of the project's contemporary case studies. PDRAs will use qualitative methods to conduct fieldwork, and to analyse and write up research outputs.

PDRAs will write research papers for peer reviewed journals, and/or edited collections, attend conferences, and contribute to the project's online content. PDRAs will also work in a team, with the PI, the other PDRAs, partner NGOs in the project's case study countries, and with the project's legal consultant. They will attend team and individual meetings and will contribute towards the project's administration and events.

PDRAs should have a commitment to ethical safeguarding and to trauma-informed research.

PDRAs will gain the opportunity for career development and mentorship.

This will be one of several PDRA positions advertised for the project. Applicants are welcome to apply to more than one position if they meet the application criteria. In this case, they should apply to the other advert separately and focus their applications on that post's selection criteria.

The Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy and its constituent Schools and Departments together support a culture of diversity and inclusion for our staff and students. We encourage further growth in diversity, and we welcome applicants of all abilities, whom we can support with our flexible and varied working practices. The Department particularly welcomes applications from women and/or candidates from a BME background.

Applications from overseas applicants are welcome - however, the successful candidate will be expected to reside in the UK and visa sponsorship is available

This is a full-time post, and you will be offered a fixed term contract from January 2026 for 2.5 years

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. A PhD in social and legal studies, transitional justice, international law, or legal institutions. Applicants from the arts and humanities will also be considered provided that their PhD research focuses on the topics above.
2. Skills and experience in qualitative research methods.
3. Research experience and knowledge in either South Asia or South America. An interest in historical, cultural and socio-political contexts.
4. A proven capacity to write and present conference papers and publish peer reviewed articles.
5. Field research experience.
6. Knowledge of and familiarity with research ethics, particularly around trauma, and a commitment to socially impactful research.
7. Attention to detail and strong interpersonal and communication skills.
8. Good time management and organisational skills.

Desirable criteria

1. Language skills in Tamil, Spanish or Rohingya.
2. Website management skills.
3. Archival research experience.
4. Knowledge of any other research methods, e.g. documentary analysis; visual, participatory, and arts-based methods; ethnographic research; participant observation; and discourse and institutional analysis.
5. Knowledge of data protection procedures.

Full details of the role and the skills and experience required, can be found in the attached job description which provided on the next page.

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate, and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible. Applicants should also indicate which case(s) they would be qualified to oversee (based on case-specific or relevant regional experience).

To find out how our managers review your application, please look at our ' How we Recruit ' pages.

Interviews are due to be held in July 2025.

This role does meet the requirements of the Home Office and therefore we are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who require the right to work in the UK.