Post-docs and PhD studentship

Education systems, aspiration and learning in remote rural settings

Brunel University London is seeking to appoint two post-doctoral research fellows and a PhD student to work on the above project. (A further post-doctoral research fellowship will be advertised shortly at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.) The research, which is funded by the ESRC-DFID raising learning outcomes scheme and led by Dr Nicola Ansell (Brunel), Dr Peggy Froerer (Brunel), Dr Roy Huijsmans (ISS) and Prof Ian Rivers (Strathclyde), will examine the relationship between aspiration and schooling in remote rural areas of Lesotho, India and Laos.

Information about the project is available at http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=ES/N01037X/1.

The post-doctoral research fellows will each be employed for 18 months (starting 1st July 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter) and will spend approximately 9 months in the field, conducting ethnographic research in two remote rural schools and their surrounding communities. They will collaborate with our local partners and will also undertake literature reviews, policy analysis and be involved in the analysis of research findings from across the project and dissemination to academic and policy audiences.

Further information and details of how to apply for the Lesotho-focused post are available at https://jobs.brunel.ac.uk/wrl/pages/vacancy.jsf?latest=01006553 and for the India-focused post at https://jobs.brunel.ac.uk/wrl/pages/vacancy.jsf?latest=01006552. The closing date for applications to these posts is 15th June 2016. For informal enquiries, contact nicola.ansell@brunel.ac.uk (Lesotho), peggy.froerer@brunel.ac.uk (India) or huijsmans@iss.nl (Laos)‎.

The PhD student will conduct related research on education and aspiration in remote rural areas. Ideally, this will connect closely with, and link together, the research undertaken in the three case studies. It may involve ethnographic research in one or more of the three settings, or in a fourth country, or it might instead focus on wider policy issues that cross-cut national contexts. Candidates must have a first class or upper second class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in Human Geography, Anthropology or a related social science discipline. It is expected that applicants will also hold (or will be completing) a relevant Masters degree and will have experience of undertaking qualitative research.

For further information and details of how to apply see http://www.brunel.ac.uk/chls/clinical-sciences/news-and-events/news/ne_474536. The closing date is 15th June 2016. For informal enquiries, contact nicola.ansell@brunel.ac.uk or peggy.froerer@brunel.ac.uk.