Research Fellow (Brazil)

About the Role

We are seeking to appoint a Research Fellow to work on the ERC-funded project RAIDS: Religious Authority in Extractive Industry Struggles, led by Professor Claire Blencowe in the Department of Sociology, University of Warwick.

RAIDS will explore the role of religion as a ‘weapon’ of both powerful corporations and marginalised communities involved in social and ecological struggles over mines or mining infrastructure. The project advances understanding of the range of authority and soft-power mechanisms at play in the contemporary extractivism. It investigates whether and how extractive industries and religious nationalisms support each other today. Working in partnership with communities engaged in existing struggles the project will amplify the knowledge and experience of marginalised front-line communities. This includes taking seriously forms of religious or spiritual activism that have too often been dismissed by modern social science, as well as supporting knowledge exchange and solidarity between communities engaged in disparate struggles.

The research fellow will be employed for two years to conduct research on religion in extractive industry struggles in Brazil. We are looking for engaged activist-scholars who are able to work closely and respectfully with mine-affected communities, participating with and supporting the community's existing activism.

You are invited to propose your own case studies as part of your application, drawing upon your existing connections or affinities with mine-affected communities. Once appointed, we will work together as a team to finalise the case study design and carry out the research encompassing: critical cultural/authority studies investigation of the 'soft' power backing contemporary mining corporations; participatory research with mine affected communities exploring the ways that they can and do engage religious or spiritual practice, organisation or wisdom in their struggles; and co-producing analysis and outputs with the mine-affected communities.

During a six-month preparatory period the fellow will conduct a literature review, ethics clearance, and training in participatory research methods. A year of empirical research will follow, including: participatory observation with each case-study community; co-hosting participatory theory workshops; interviews; and online critical/investigative analysis. A final six-month period focuses on completion of outputs including at least one lead-authored journal article, data packages for each case study, news stories, and content for the project website and co-authored book, as well as future planning.

The post is full-time, fixed-term appointments for 24 months commencing January 2027.

For further information or informal enquiries, please contact Professor Claire Blencowe (C.Blencowe@warwick.ac.uk).

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description (link here).

About You

PhD Status

If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£34,610 per annum).

Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£35,608 per annum).

You will be a rigorous, reflective and collaborative researcher in a relevant field. You will have experience of qualitative research methods such as interviews, ethnography, participant observation, documentary or archival research, participatory methods, digital methods or community-based research.  You will also be able to work sensitively and ethically with communities affected by environmental harm, displacement, marginalisation or political conflict.

For the Brazil post, expertise in Brazil or Latin America, extractive industries, religion, Indigenous or marginalised communities, environmental justice, racism, colonialism, or political ecology is desirable. The ability to work with Portuguese-language sources and communicate in Portuguese for research purposes is strongly desirable.

We are looking for candidates who can work independently and collaboratively, communicate clearly with academic and non-academic audiences and contribute to high-quality research outputs, public engagement and the wider aims of the RAIDS project.

About the Department

The Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick is one of the UK's leading Sociology departments, recognised nationally and internationally for the quality of its teaching and research. We are ranked 8th in the UK for Sociology in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 and among the top 100 Sociology departments globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In REF2021, 100% of our research environment was judged to be conducive to producing research of world-leading or internationally excellent quality.

Our research and teaching engage with some of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary societies, including inequality, migration, race and ethnicity, gender, health, sustainability, technology and social justice. The Department hosts a wide programme of research activity and seminars throughout the year, delivered through our research clusters and centres. We are also expanding our teaching portfolio, with two new undergraduate programmes due to launch in the next academic year (2026-27).

Sociology has a strong culture of community and engagement that extends beyond teaching and research. Our Care Collective provides an informal space for collegial support, and our Green Team is responsible for identifying and implementing departmental actions that contribute to environmental sustainability.

We are proud to hold an Athena Swan Silver Award, recognising our commitment to advancing gender equality and creating an inclusive working and learning environment. As part of our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we are currently working towards Athena Swan Gold accreditation.

We strive to create a culture in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect, differences are valued, and all members of our community are supported to thrive. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

To find out more about the Department of Sociology, please visit our website: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/.

How to Apply

To apply please complete your essential personal details and attach a CV and cover letter on the closing date. Please ensure your CV includes your most recent employment experience along with any additional relevant experience and education history.

We will review applications throughout the advertising period and may contact shortlisted candidates before the closing date. We therefore encourage interested applicants to submit their application as early as possible. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. 

Applicants are asked to propose two extractive industry struggles that you could successfully research as case studies, drawing upon your existing connections, or affinities, with mine-affected communities. Please read further information on the research project so that you understand where these case studies sit in the project. In your application you do not need to propose a methodology for researching your case studies, you simply need to:

• Briefly describe each extractive industry struggle 
• Tell us why it might be promising as a site to research religious authority in extractive industry struggles
• Tell us why you personally would be a good fit to work with that community