Research Fellow in Emotions and Grievance Politics

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK research university is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher for the Horizon Europe project PLEDGE. This role focuses on researching emotional expressions in grievance politics and their implications for democracy. The candidate will engage in empirical research using various methods, contribute to the project's organization, and disseminate findings through publications and presentations. A PhD in Political Science or Psychology is required, along with strong quantitative skills in data analysis. Proficiency in English is necessary, and familiarity with additional languages is desirable.

Qualifications

• Hold a PhD in Political Science or Psychology, focusing on emotionality in grievance politics.
• Demonstrate an emerging publication record in emotionality and populism debates.
• Possess expertise in experimental design and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Engage in research on emotionality in politics.
• Utilize various research methods for data collection and analysis.
• Disseminate findings through publications and presentations.

Skills

Experimental methods

Quantitative analysis

Project management

Statistical software (e.g., STATA, SPSS, R)

Knowledge of political psychology

Education

PhD in Political Science or Psychology

Tools

STATA

SPSS

R

Nvivo

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Research Field Political sciences Psychological sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 27 Jan 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Department of Politics and International Relations (PAIR) at the University of Southampton, UK, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher (100% FTE) to join the Horizon Europe project PLEDGE. This interdisciplinary project, spanning from February 2024 to January 2027, delves into the emotional expressions of grievance politics and implications for democratic governance and political mobilization. Led by Dr. Tereza Capelos, Professor in Political Psychology at PAIR, the Southampton team is at the forefront of groundbreaking research aimed at understanding the emotional dynamics shaping contemporary political landscapes.

• Engage in conceptual and empirical research on emotionality in politics, focusing on themes such as grievance politics, ressentiment, anti-democratic support, affective polarisation and populist politics
• Utilize a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, including experiments, longitudinal surveys, and interviews to explore the role of emotions in political preferences and policy dynamics
• Analyse research findings and disseminate results through academic publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination activities
• Contribute to project organization and participate in project-related events and activities
• Attend regular meetings with the local project team and the European consortium
• Contribute to the intellectual life of the University of Southampton through participation in seminars, workshops, and departmental meetings
• Disseminate information about PLEDGE research outputs through electronic and social media, as well as in written form.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a PhD in Political Science or Psychology, focusing on the psychological dynamics of emotionality in the context of grievance, populist politics, and challenges to democracy, using experimental and quantitative methods.
• Demonstrate an emerging publication record in key debates on emotionality, ressentiment, grievance politics, and populism.
• Possess expertise in the design, implementation, and analysis of experiments and the ability to analyse survey and interview data using STATA, SPSS, R,Nvivoand other quantitative and qualitative data analysis packages.
• Exhibit project management and data management skills, preferably in the context of quantitative projects.
• Show active engagement with the field of political psychology through participation in conferences, workshops, and other knowledge exchange events.
• Have proficiency in English, with proficiency or near‑proficiency in German, Greek, Spanish, Swedish, Finish, Hungarian, Dutch, French, or Turkish being desirable.

Information:For enquiries about the project and the position, please contact Dr. Tereza Capelos [e-mail] . For further information about the PAIR Department, please contact Head of Department, Pia Riggirozzi [e-mail] .

We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply. The University of Southampton promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its activities.