Marie Curie Research Fellow (PhD Funded)

This post forms part of an international multi-site research programme with the title: A Sociology of Post-Imperial Islamic Legal Cultures: Insights from Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia (MINARET), which is based at the University of Lund. It is funded under the auspices of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks. The Principal Investigator at the University of Birmingham is Prof Chris Thornhill (Law).

This post is focused on Islamic Constitutional Hybridity, entailing coverage of Indonesia, Morocco, and Uzbekistan. It addresses ways in which constitutional systems in societies with large Muslim populations internalise religious norms in state institutions and how this shapes democratic aspirations. The appointee will conduct comparative doctoral-level research to investigate how Islamic values and moral reasoning are integrated in constitutional and administrative governance in Muslim-majority societies.

Main Duties:

- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
- Contribute to writing bids for research funding
- Analyse and interpret data
- Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
- Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
- Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
- Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
- Undertake management/administration arising from research
- Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
- Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
- Collect research data through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
- Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
- Work in a team, travel to conferences and regular network training events, and take part in an academic and non-academic secondment abroad
- Undertake two secondments abroad, one academic and one non-academic, of between two and six months duration
- Promote equality and value diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Essential Eligibility Criteria (MSCA):

- Must have obtained a degree which formally entitles them to start a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited
- Cannot have been awarded a doctoral degree and/or completed more than four years of full-time equivalent research experience
- Must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date
- Must be willing to travel to conferences and network training events, and to take part in academic and non-academic secondments abroad

Skills and Knowledge Requirements:

- High level analytical capability
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly
- Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
- Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
- Ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
- Ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

UK and International Travel may be required for this role.