The Nuffield College intends to appoint with effect from 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter, two Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellows (PPRFs) in Sociology, broadly construed to include sociology, demography, criminology, social and medical statistics, public policy, and social policy. The College particularly welcomes applications from candidates who work or plan to work in the field of one or more of the College’s Sociology Fellows, but this is not a requirement.
The key responsibilities of the Research Fellows are to engage in advanced study and independent scholarly research in sociology broadly construed (as above); to disseminate research findings through publication and participation in conferences and seminars; and to take part in the intellectual life of the College by organising seminars, workshops, or conferences. Research Fellows may also undertake ad hoc paid teaching or supervision within the collegiate University in Oxford, up to a maximum of 48 hours per year.
To be eligible, candidates should have completed, or be close to completing, a PhD/DPhil in a relevant field. Candidates must be within three years of the defence date of their doctorate at the time of application. Allowances will be made for career breaks (for example, family-related leave) and candidates are asked to provide relevant information. Preference will be given to candidates who have not previously held a research fellowship similar to that advertised for more than one year at the time of taking up the fellowship. Prospective candidates should also have experience of carrying out independent research, a track record of excellent quality papers appropriate for their career level, and publications in peer-reviewed journals commensurate with their career level. They should have the willingness to contribute to the intellectual life of the College, and excellent oral and written communication skills.
The Fellowships are full-time, fixed-term posts and are to be taken up on 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The post end date will normally be 31 August 2029. Candidates who have not yet completed their doctorate at the time of application should note that to take up the Fellowship in September 2026, it may be necessary for them to have submitted their doctoral dissertation for examination by the end of May 2026. The posts will be based at Nuffield College. The salary offered is £41,700 per annum.
Further particulars, including information on how to apply and further benefits, are available from the College website at https://www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/media/nvynectx/socpprf2026-jd.pdf
For the online application you will be asked to complete an application form and a recruitment monitoring form, and to upload the following documents:
A covering letter explaining how you meet the selection criteria for the Fellowship.
A Curriculum Vitae including a full list of publications/working papers.
A one-page description of your current research.
A one-page description of the research you would plan to undertake as a Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellow; and
Two samples of your written work (for example, research papers or thesis chapters), together with a one-page abstract for each piece.
The deadline for applications is Monday 22 September 2025.
Interviews are likely to take place in the week beginning Monday 1 December 2025.
For details, visit https://www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/jobs-and-vacancies/postdoctoral-prize-research-fellowships-in-sociology-two-posts/