Research Fellow in Anti-Autocratic Messaging(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

About the Project

NEWREPUBLIC is a prestigious research programme funded by the European Research Council (ERC), designed to tackle one of the defining political challenges of our era: how societies resist autocracy—and which ideas actually motivate people to do so.

The project examines both the ideas that inspire anti-autocratic movements and the effectiveness of those ideas as political messages. Using large-scale, nationally representative survey experiments conducted across three African countries, NEWREPUBLIC seeks to generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence that speaks directly to contemporary debates on democracy, political mobilisation, and democratic resilience.

About the Role

As Research Fellow in Anti-Autocratic Messaging, you will be a core intellectual partner in the NEWREPUBLIC project. Working closely with the Principal Investigator, two PhD researchers, and a Project Officer, you will help shape the project from design through to publication and impact.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Co-designing and analysing cross-national survey experiments on political messaging and mobilisation
• Leading advanced quantitative analysis of public opinion data
• Co-authoring high-impact academic publications for leading political science journals
• Translating academic findings into policy-relevant outputs and public engagement activities
• Presenting findings at international conferences, policy forums, and workshops
• Contributing to the development of follow-on funding proposals and future research agendas
• This role offers genuine scope to influence the project’s intellectual direction and to build a sustained research profile beyond the lifetime of the grant.

About You

This position is ideal for an early-career researcher who wants to place questions of anti-autocratic ideas, political messaging, and democratic mobilisation at the centre of their academic career.

You will bring:

• A completed PhD in Political Science or a closely related discipline
• A developing publication record in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals
• Strong expertise in survey experiments, quantitative methods, and public opinion research
• Research interests aligned with political messaging, ideology, political behaviour, or discourse

Desirable (but not essential) experience includes:

• Research on African politics, autocracy, democratic resilience, or protest movements
• Experience presenting at academic conferences or engaging non-academic audiences
• Involvement in research coordination, supervision, or collaborative projects
• Exposure to funding applications or policy-facing research

Research Environment

You will be based in the Department of Politics at the University of Sussex—a globally recognised centre for research excellence. The department houses:

• The Centre for the Study of Corruption
• The Sussex European Institute
• Strong links with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), ranked first worldwide for Development Studies

You will also benefit from structured career development support through the Sussex Researcher School, with tailored training for early-career researchers.

Why Join the University of Sussex?

Set beside the South Downs National Park, Sussex offers a unique combination of research intensity, collegial culture, and quality of life. The University is internationally recognised for its commitment to:

Research integrity and open scholarship

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

• Policy-engaged and globally relevant research
• Travel to campus is easy via public transport, with Falmer Station located just minutes away.

Policy, Ethics & External Context (UK Government Resources)

This role operates within key UK and international research and policy frameworks, including:

UK research governance and funding standards

• Ethical standards for social and behavioural research
• Democratic governance and international development policy
• Public opinion, democracy, and governance statistics
• Skilled Worker visa and researcher mobility guidance

Visa Information

This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code and meets the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship if appointed full-time at Grade 7.4, subject to Home Office rules. Applicants are encouraged to consult the UK Skilled Worker guidance for details.

How to Apply

Please submit:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages)
• A CV
• A writing sample (maximum 10,000 words)

Closing Date: 28 January 2026 (3:59 PM)
Interviews: Week commencing 2 March 2026