Post Doctoral Research Associate - Grade 7

Applicants are invited to apply for the position of Postdoctoral Research Associate: History of Conservation and Animal Health to work on the project Conserving Global Health: Biodiversity Protection and the Prehistory of Planetary Health, which is funded by a Wellcome Trust Career Development Award and hosted in the Department of History. Conserving Global Health is led by the Principal Investigator Dr Jules Skotnes-Brown. In addition to this post, the project team includes a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the History of Conservation and Earth Systems’ Health.

Conserving Global Health will provide the first major investigation of how species, landscape, and biodiversity conservation became global health strategies, and their health consequences for humans, animals, plants, and microbes in the long twentieth century (1890s-2020s). The project team will explore the historical engagements, collaborations and frictions between conservation theories and practices and international, global, and Planetary Health in the long twentieth century. We will uncover some of the historical roots of the present global ecological crisis, offer warnings from the past about the health consequences of environmental degradation, and make contributions to the medical humanities, environmental history, and global history.

The project team will develop an innovative approach which will consider humans, animals, ecosystems, and planetary systems in an integrated framework. In so doing, we will provide a critical prehistory of the modern field of Planetary Health, placing conservation theories and practices at the centre of its development.

WP2: History of Conservation and Animal Health

WP2 will investigate the history of domestic animal diseases (including but not limited to Animal African Trypanosomiasis), and their connections with species conservation in South Africa and/or Zimbabwe, and/or Uganda. WP2 will examine how the creation of protected areas in specific regions impacted the health of Indigenous communities and their animals. You will also explore how animal disease research conducted within these regions shaped conservation and health priorities in international health, conservation, and development organisations.

You will work on WP2. You will be based in the Department of History at the University of Liverpool. You will have a research background in African history, anthropology, African studies, historical geography, or related disciplines, and theoretical fluency in environmental and/or medical humanities. You must have knowledge of an African language relevant to one or more of the project regions, experience working with African archives and ideally training in either oral history or ethnography.

Application process  

In addition to the online application form, please provide:

• CV
• Covering letter explaining how your past research is suitable for the role, and your envisioned contributions to the Department of History
• 1-2-page research proposal outlining a programme of research into conservation and domestic animal disease(s), including but not limited to Animal African Trypanosomiasis.
• Sample of written work of around 10,000 words (e.g., a journal article or thesis chapter)
• The names of two referees

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30. Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.