Winant-Kinder Career Development Fellow in US Politics

Job Description

Role Overview

The University of Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute (RAI), in partnership with the University of Missouri’s Kinder Institute, invites applications for a fixed-term postdoctoral fellowship in US politics. The fellowship provides an early-career scholar with the opportunity to develop research, teaching, and academic administration expertise in areas including:

American political development

Political thought or intellectual history with a US focus

Comparative politics (including US politics)

Anglo-American relations

The Winant-Kinder Fellow will engage in high-quality research and lead the course “Democracy in Theory and Practice” for approximately twenty US undergraduates as part of the four-week RAI-Kinder summer school in Oxford.

Key Responsibilities:

Conduct and publish exceptional research on US government and politics in peer-reviewed books and articles.

Plan, teach, and assess the core undergraduate summer school course.

Contribute to the academic life of the RAI, including developing events and workshops on US politics.

Provide up to three hours of weekly teaching for Oxford undergraduates.

Assist with academic administration related to course coordination and teaching teams.

Engage with students, building rapport and supporting their learning experience.

Candidate Requirements:

PhD completed within the last three years by the time of application.

Demonstrated research potential and commitment to high-quality scholarship.

Clear plan for research and publication during the fellowship period.

Experience in teaching undergraduates or equivalent high-level students.

Ability to manage research activities independently.

Experience or aptitude for academic administration, including planning and organising courses.

Strong interpersonal skills to engage with students and colleagues at all levels.

Benefits:

Contributory pension scheme

38 days annual leave

Comprehensive childcare services

Family leave schemes

Cycle loan scheme

Discounted bus travel and season ticket loans

Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Application Process:

Applications must be submitted online via the University of Oxford portal, quoting Vacancy ID 181993. Candidates must upload a CV and a supporting statement addressing the selection criteria, with two referees.

Deadline: 27th October 2025, 12:00 noon GMT
Interviews: Expected in the week commencing 17th November 2025