Assistant Professor in Comparative Politics

Working at Durham University

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The Department

Since its founding in 2004, the School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA) has developed into one of the UK's leading departments in Politics and International Relations. The School combines strong core disciplinary foundations with embedded regional expertise, reflecting a long-standing commitment to integrating area studies within mainstream political science and IR scholarship. SGIA is currently ranked among the top Politics departments in the UK by the Complete University Guide and is placed within the QS World University Rankings top 100 globally for Politics and International Studies.

We offer three single honours undergraduate programmes (BA Politics, BA International Relations, and BA Politics & International Relations), alongside joint honours degrees with Philosophy and Economics, and a PPE programme. We also contribute substantially to Combined Honours in Social Sciences and Liberal Arts pathways.

At postgraduate level, we offer a diverse portfolio of taught Masters programmes, including practitioner-oriented MSc degrees. We are home to a vibrant postgraduate community of research students and taught postgraduate students. Across all levels, our teaching is explicitly research-led and supported by a highly international academic and student body, a defining strength of the School.

Demand for our programmes remains consistently high, attracting students of outstanding calibre who progress into careers across academia, government, international organisations, the private sector and civil society. Our strategic priorities include widening participation, enhancing diversity, strengthening international partnerships, and fostering a research-led learning community that equips students to address complex global challenges.

In REF 2021, over 80% of our research was rated internationally excellent or world leading, confirming SGIA's position as a major centre of research excellence. Within the School, four core research groupings structure intellectual activity: Comparative Politics, International Political Economy, International Politics and Security, and Political Theory. These are complemented by cross-cutting institutes and centres. The successful candidate will join colleagues in the Centre for Institutions and Political Behaviour , which provides a stimulating and supportive environment for developing and refining research projects and outputs, networking with colleagues within and beyond Durham and providing pump-priming financial support for research.

Job Description

The School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA) at Durham University seeks to appoint an exceptional scholar as an Assistant Professor with research and teaching expertise in Comparative Politics, whose work uses quantitative research methods and has a regional focus on Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Middle East.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching while allowing unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, please visit our School page at School of Government and International Affairs - Durham University as well as the web page of the Centre for Institutions and Political Behaviour - Durham University .

The successful candidate will benefit from individual research support funding, access to SGIA and University-wide research funding and be entitled to apply for sabbatical leave on a basis of one term of leave in each seven terms of service. SGIA and Durham University provide high-quality administrative support to assist with applications for research funding, to facilitate research-based engagement and impact work with non-academic communities, and to enable the introduction and dissemination of new educational practice.

The successful candidate will get involved in the development of our research community in Comparative Politics, including its connections with other Durham departments and other institutions, and innovative educational practice to enhance the learning experience of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, including PhD candidates. Among other EDI initiatives, the department is currently in the process of diversifying its curriculum, and this is a project we would be keen on the post-holder to contribute to.

For more information, please visit our department pages at www.dur.ac.uk/sgia/ .

Assistant Professors at Durham

Assistant Professors on the Education and Research track are encouraged to focus on research and teaching but are also expected to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, support their department and discipline, and contribute to the wider student experience.

Academic colleagues are supported to publish excellent research in their area of interest with a focus on high-quality outputs (including monographs and journal articles ), rather than quantity. We aim to support your research needs, including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activities, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor.

Durham University is also committed to ensuring outstanding teaching quality, stimulating learning environments, and innovative curricula for all our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and skills.

We are confident that our recruitment process allows us to attract and select the best talent to Durham. We, therefore, offer a reduced probation period of 1 year for our Assistant Professors and thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance, your position will be confirmed as permanent.

The successful applicant will play an important role in leading the development of research and teaching in Comparative Politics within the School of Government and International Affairs. The person appointed will be required to undertake research in Comparative Politics that uses quantitative research methods, has a regional focus on Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Middle East, and makes a significant contribution to the academic literature. The successful candidate will also actively pursue research grant applications and contribute to the growth and development of the Centre for Institutions and Political Behavior and its MSc in Public Policy.

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of Comparative Politics, and an innovative approach towards the use of methods that can be applied to generate new insights and research questions. Candidates must establish their demonstrated ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of Durham University.

We strive to provide a working and teaching environment that is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

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