The University of Edinburgh is looking for a Research Fellow to conduct historical research over an 18-month period that will contribute to the work of the Research and Engagement Working Group (REWG) on Engaging with the University of Edinburgh’s Historical Links to African Enslavement and Colonialism and their Racial Legacies Today. We welcome applications for this post from candidates with competence in the fields of British Colonialism and Empire, colonial/postcolonial histories of British colonialism and the history of race and/or the development of racial ‘science’. We particularly welcome applications from members of racially minoritized groups who are currently under-represented in the University.

The Opportunity:

The REWG was set up in January 2022 in response to the Principal’s announcement that the University of Edinburgh (UoE) would begin a bold decolonization and reparatory justice programme dedicated looking at ‘Issues of race, contemporary racism, Eurocentric and Afriphobic aspects of our curriculum and features of the University’s history’ (January 2021). The Principal appointed Sir Geoff Palmer to chair the Steering Group (SG) and two academic staff with relevant expertise in the areas of Black Studies, the history and legacies of African enslavement and reparatory justice, Professor Tommy J. Curry and Dr Nicola Frith, to co-chair the REWG.

The role of the co-chairs role is to write a report on the University’s historical links to slavery and colonialism and their contemporary legacies today. They are responsible for the overall coordination and production of the report, including advertising and appointing new posts, establishing a programme of work, coordinating engagement and consultation events and processes, chairing the REWG, overseeing the research, reporting to EDIC, providing progress reports to the SG, and writing the report.

The REWG is comprised of academics (including the project’s three research fellows), student representatives, community organizations and activist groups. This group meets monthly to discuss the work and its progress. The REWG works in conjunction with the SG and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC). The REWG’s role is to: provide supervision and mentorship for three postdoctoral or professional equivalent research fellows who will be hired to conduct the research component of the report; provide a bridge to relevant community groups in Edinburgh, Scotland and the UK; offer consultancy on issues relating to the legacies of African enslavement and colonialism; ensure the review’s visibility and accountability to external communities; and offer expertise on issues relating to the University’s history and legacies of slavery and colonialism.

The three research fellows are each looking at different aspects of the histories and legacies of slavery and colonialism, as linked to the University of Edinburgh. The other two posts have already started investigating African enslavement and contemporary forms of institutional racism. The candidate for this post will therefore be working alongside the other fellows by investigating links between the University and colonialism. See here for more information: https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/7075

Your skills and attributes for success:

-A PhD completed or nearing completion in history or a related area on a topic relevant to the project, or equivalent knowledge and experience developed outside formal education.

-Knowledge of scholarly literature on British colonialism and empire.

-Ability to apply relevant knowledge, skills and techniques in research, discussion and dissemination

-Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing at an appropriate level to a variety of stakeholders, including academic audiences and communities of reparatory justice interest.

-Motivated, pro-active and methodical.

Application Deadline: 4 July 2023

More details on the role are available here