Research Fellow (USA)

We are seeking to appoint a Research Fellow to work on the ERC-funded project RAIDS: Religious Authority in Extractive Industry Struggles, led by Professor Claire Blencowe in the Department of Sociology, University of Warwick.

RAIDS will explore the role of religion as a 'weapon' of both powerful corporations and marginalised communities involved in social and ecological struggles over mines or mining infrastructure. The project advances understanding of the range of authority and soft-power mechanisms at play in contemporary extractivism. It investigates whether and how extractive industries and religious nationalisms support each other today. Working in partnership with communities engaged in existing struggles, the project will amplify the knowledge and experience of marginalised front-line communities. This includes taking seriously forms of religious or spiritual activism that have too often been dismissed by modern social science, as well as supporting knowledge exchange and solidarity between communities engaged in disparate struggles.

The research fellow will be employed for two years to conduct research on religion in extractive industry struggles in the USA. We are looking for engaged activist-scholars who are able to work closely and respectfully with mine-affected communities, participating with and supporting the community's existing activism.

Applicants are invited to propose their own case studies as part of their application, drawing upon existing connections or affinities with mine-affected communities. Once appointed, the team will work together to finalise the case study design and carry out the research encompassing: critical cultural/authority studies investigation of the 'soft' power backing contemporary mining corporations; participatory research with mine-affected communities exploring the ways that they can and do engage religious or spiritual practice, organisation or wisdom in their struggles; and co-producing analysis and outputs with the mine-affected communities.

During a six-month preparatory period the fellow will conduct a literature review, ethics clearance, and training in participatory research methods. A year of empirical research will follow, including: participatory observation with each case-study community; co-hosting participatory theory workshops; interviews; and online critical/investigative analysis. A final six-month period focuses on completion of outputs including at least one lead-authored journal article, data packages for each case study, news stories, and content for the project website and co-authored book, as well as future planning.

The post is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for 24 months commencing January 2027.

About You:

You will be a rigorous, reflective and collaborative researcher in a relevant field. You will have experience of qualitative research methods such as interviews, ethnography, participant observation, documentary or archival research, participatory methods, digital methods or community-based research. You will also be able to work sensitively and ethically with communities affected by environmental harm, displacement, marginalisation or political conflict.

For the USA post, expertise in the USA, extractive industries, religion, Indigenous sovereignty, settler colonialism, environmental justice, racial capitalism, Christian nationalism, petro-cultures or pipeline politics is desirable.

We are looking for candidates who can work independently and collaboratively, communicate clearly with academic and non-academic audiences and contribute to high-quality research outputs, public engagement and the wider aims of the RAIDS project.

PhD Status: If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£34,610 per annum). Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£35,608 per annum).

About the Project:

The global rush for minerals often overlooks the role of religious authority as a hidden force shaping local resistance, corporate power and extractive industry struggles. The ERC-funded RAIDS project will explore how religion serves as a potent 'weapon' for both marginalised communities and powerful extractive interests. The project will analyse eight diverse mining disputes across Brazil, India, Indonesia, and the USA. Using a decolonial-feminist approach, it will centre the voices of those on the front lines of mineral extraction and examine how spiritual narratives influence struggles over land, labour and justice. RAIDS will be carried out over five years, commencing in September 2026.

Benefits include an attractive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, savings on a wide range of products and services, a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, onsite childcare facilities, and access to flexible working. The University is a Living Wage employer.