Research Fellow

Job title:

Research Fellow

Company

University of Warwick

Job description

For informal queries, please email Dr. Anna Toropova (Assistant Professor and Award Holder of Wellcome Trust Career Development Award ‘Traumatised Minds, Neurosis, and Hysteria in Soviet Medicine and Culture, 1917-1953’) at [email protected].The Department of History seeks to appoint a Research Fellow for a fixed-term period of 24 months from 1 September 2025 to work with Dr Anna Toropova on the Wellcome Trust funded Career Development Award: ‘Traumatised Minds, Neurosis and Hysteria in Soviet Medicine and Culture, 1917-1953’.This project examines scientific, medical and cultural approaches to psychological trauma in the Soviet Union between 1917 and 1953.It has often been assumed that Soviet authorities forced conformity to a Pavlovian model that severely neglected the mental realm and silenced the question of traumatised consciousness.‘Traumatised Minds’ seeks to complicate this narrative by bringing to light a vibrant tradition of research on psychological trauma, neurosis and hysteria that persisted throughout this period.Examining a diverse body of research and practice across the Soviet republics, the project aims to reveal a unique tradition of understanding trauma which was neither ‘Freudian’ nor straightforwardly ‘Pavlovian’.Spotlighting the scientific and medical work that took place in Soviet Ukraine, the Baltic states, Central Asia and the Caucasus, ‘Traumatised Minds’ will examine how specific local contexts impacted research, diagnosis and strategies of care.The wider cultural resonance of medical understandings of traumatic neurosis will be explored through attention to artistic, literary, and cinematic engagements with the topic of trauma. Uncovering the new meanings that mental distress acquired in popular culture and in first person accounts, the project will examine how ideas about trauma travelled outside the clinic.You will be part of one of the largest History departments in the UK with a thriving community of teachers and researchers covering a range of disciplines and geographical areas.About YouThe successful candidate will work closely with the lead investigator, Dr Toropova, to examine medical and cultural approaches to the traumatised mind in the Soviet republics between 1917 and 1953.The candidate will have expertise in the history and the languages and cultures of one (or more) of the non-Russian republics of the Soviet Union, and will pursue independent research that advances the project aims of ‘Traumatised Minds’.The candidate will be expected to undertake high quality research, to produce sole authored journal articles and co-authored work with the lead investigator, to collaborate on the organisation of workshops and an edited volume, and to contribute to public engagement activities associated with the project.We are particularly keen to see applications from backgrounds currently underrepresented in UK higher education.We welcome applications from early career researchers from all sections of the community from around the globe. Please note that the PhD must be awarded by the job start date of 1 September 2025.For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.About the DepartmentThe Warwick University History Department is one of the largest history departments in the UK, with teaching and research notable for its disciplinary range and geographical scope. The Department is comprised of ~ 50 academic staff, 4 postdoctoral staff, 12 support staff, ~1,000 undergraduate students, and ~80 postgraduate students. The Department has a strong international reputation and consistently high rankings in both UK and international surveys. In the recent REF 2021 exercise 92% of research was ranked as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). The Department is committed to maintaining and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion amongst its staff and student community. The Department is home to five research centres: the Global History and Culture Centre; the Centre for the History of Medicine; the European History Centre; the Early Modern and Eighteenth Century Centre; and the Centre for Global Jewish Studies. We also engage with two faculty research centres, the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance and the Centre for Caribbean Studies.About the UniversityBorn in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**.You’ll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.*QS World University Rankings 2024** Research Excellence Framework 2021To find out more about us visit ourHow to ApplyCLOSING DATE: Sunday 16 March 2025 at 11.55pmTo apply, please click ‘Apply’ below and submit an application form by the closing date. Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 11.30pm).Please attach a CV and cover letter to include a 500-word research proposal.

• Your CV should include your most recent employment experience, any other relevant experience, and education history.
• Your cover letter must detail how you meet each of the essential criteria found in the Job Description document below (desirable criteria too, where possible). The proposal should outline the research topic that you wish to pursue for the next two years, clarify which Soviet republic(s) your work will focus on, and set out how the proposed research would advance the aims of ‘Traumatised Minds’.

Writing samples might be requested from candidates at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process and should not be submitted with the initial application.Please see for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and giving examples below, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications via our official website, .Interview Date: May 2025 (via Teams if necessary)Start Date: September 2025What we OfferWe will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click .We are proud to say that we are a .If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.Our Commitment to InclusionWarwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages .The University currently holds a , and a . The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the .Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with.In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity, will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all necessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (i.e. children and/or adults).We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.Rehabilitation of Ex-OffendersThe University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (i.e. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.Job Description

Expected salary

£35116 per year

Location

Coventry

Job date

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:30:23 GMT

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