Research Fellow (USA)

Overview

The Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick is appointing a Research Fellow to work on RAIDS: Religious Authority in Extractive Industry Struggles, an ERC-funded project. The project looks at religion as a weapon used by both powerful corporations and marginalised communities in social and ecological struggles over mines and mining infrastructure. It studies the authority and soft-power mechanisms at work in present-day extractivism and asks whether extractive industries and religious nationalisms reinforce one another. By working with communities already engaged in struggles, it aims to amplify front-line knowledge, give serious attention to religious and spiritual activism that social science has often dismissed, and support exchange and solidarity between communities.

The post is full time and fixed term for 24 months from January 2027, on site, with the research focused on religion in extractive industry struggles in the USA.

Who can apply

The project is looking for engaged activist-scholars who can work closely and respectfully with mine-affected communities and support their existing activism. Applicants are invited to propose their own case studies based on their existing connections or affinities with such communities, and the design is finalised together with the team after appointment.

What you will do

The research covers a critical cultural and authority studies investigation of the soft power behind mining corporations, participatory research with mine-affected communities on how they use religious or spiritual practice, organisation or wisdom in their struggles, and co-producing analysis and outputs with them. A six-month preparatory period involves a literature review, ethics clearance and training in participatory methods. A year of empirical research follows, with participatory observation in each case-study community, co-hosted theory workshops, interviews and online investigative analysis. The last six months are for outputs, including at least one lead-authored journal article, data packages for each case study, news stories and content for the project website and a co-authored book, along with future planning.

What you get

The salary is 35,608 to 46,049 GBP per year.

Key dates

The closing date is 5 November 2026.