Research Officer (Comparative Politics)

Economics Network; Oxford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

ODID at Oxford seeks a Research Officer to join the team working on the European Muslim Observatory project. The post-holder will contribute to developing a new research infrastructure and support policy-relevant research on Islam, Europe, and social cohesion.

The role requires a Master’s degree in a related field and strong analytical abilities, with emphasis on systematic handling of large data sets. The appointment is full-time for 18 months, based at ODID, Oxford.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Comparative Politics, Political Science, European Studies or related discipline.
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills.
• Ability to work systematically with large volumes of information.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and implement the new European Muslim Observatory research infrastructure.
• Contribute to the ERC-funded project on Muslim youth and social cohesion.
• Engage in research activities supporting policy engagement and international collaboration.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Systematic data handling

Education

Master's degree in Comparative Politics / Political Science / European Studies or related discipline

Job description

Location: Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TB

The Oxford Department of International Development (ODID) is seeking to recruit a Research Officer. Reporting to Professor Masooda Bano, the post-holder will join a research team funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, Choosing Islamic Conservatism: Muslim Youth in Europe and the UK and the Question of Social Cohesion. Building on the earlier phases of the project, the team is now establishing the European Muslim Observatory: Comparative Research Infrastructure on Muslim Institutional Development in Europe. The Observatory aims to develop the first systematic comparative research infrastructure documenting the institutional development of Islam and Muslim communities across Europe. It will bring together legal, political, institutional and religious data to examine how Muslim institutions evolve in interaction with constitutional frameworks, state institutions and wider society, creating a lasting research resource for comparative scholarship on Islam in Europe.

The Observatory aims to establish a lasting comparative database that will support future academic research, policy engagement and international collaboration beyond the lifetime of the current ERC grant. Successful applicants will become part of the founding research team responsible for designing, developing and implementing this new research infrastructure.

This post is offered full-time for 18 months.

The successful candidate will have a Master's degree (or equivalent) in Comparative Politics, Political Science, European Studies or a closely related discipline. They will also possess excellent analytical and organisational skills. The ability to work systematically with large volumes of information is essential to this role.

At ODID we embrace and cherish our differences, and endeavour to be considerate and welcoming of all. You are most welcome at ODID, without the need to hide any part of who you are. We acknowledge societal inequalities and how these affect us, and those around us, personally and professionally. We hold an Athena Swan bronze award in recognition of our efforts to introduce organisational and cultural changes which promote equality, cherish diversity and create a better working environment for all. We are also taking active steps to promote race equality and reduce the risk of bias and discrimination. We work together to enrich, fortify and grow our community and dedicate our combined efforts to teaching and research to increase our impact and influence in development debates at the national and global level. We encourage all eligible candidates to apply for our vacancies and join us in pursuing our goals.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your online application.

Please note that only the CV and supporting statement will be considered; any other documents uploaded will not be reviewed as part of the shortlisting process.

Only applications received before 12 midday on Friday, 11 September 2026 can be considered.

Contact Person: HR Team

Pay Scale: RESEARCH GRADE 6

Contact Email: [e-mail]