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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

This post has been designed for an outstanding research associate in the field of history.

The post-holder will conduct research on the 3-year project ‘The 101st kilometre: Soviet marginalization, migration, memory, and mapping’, funded by the Leverhulme Trust – link to the project: https://www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/research/101st-kilometre-soviet-marginalization-migration-memory-and-mapping.

This project offers the first interdisciplinary investigation of the 101st kilometre in Soviet and post-Soviet cultures, combining expertise from history, cultural studies, and digital humanities. It will analyse and map 101st-kilometre practices of urban exclusion, migration, community–building, and commemoration across Ukraine, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

You will be working as part of a UK team led by Professor Polly Jones (PI, University of Oxford) and Dr Miriam Dobson (CoI, University of Sheffield). 

You will be responsible for the Kazakh case-study and spend ten weeks in Kazakhstan conducting research in archives and museums. 

You will process, catalogue, and analyse this material; contribute materials to the digital mapping output; and write a single-authored journal article and conference paper based on your case-study. 

In addition, you will conduct archival research at the Hoover Institution, USA, and in the UK, using digitized and print collections and collaborate with the Oxford-based research associate on the project website. 

The project requires a highly motivated research associate, with excellent communication skills and able to  produce research at the highest quality and develop the project’s research profile. You will need to have experience of archival research in the former Soviet Union and fluent knowledge of Russian.

You will join a dynamic team of researchers in the School and will be line-managed by Dr Miriam Dobson.

The School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities sits within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and combines internationally acknowledged research excellence with modern, imaginative teaching that enables our students to think for themselves and excel in the study of history, philosophy, archaeology and digital humanities.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Survey the research literature and help to develop the team’s research strategy.

• Conduct archival and museum research in Kazakhstan (10 weeks of fieldwork)

• Conduct archival research at the Hoover Institution, USA, (3 weeks) and in the UK, using digitized and print collections

• Manage data storage; process and analyse data; identify data for digital mapping output.

• Contribute to the  ethical approval process.

• Assist in the writing of the project website/blog, newsletters, reports and scholarly publications.

• Present work in progress to the project team and at events and conferences both independently and as part of the project team.

• Disseminate research findings through a single-author journal article 

• Attend project meetings.

• Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

• Actively engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria– these will be assessed at application and interview stage

• Have a PhD (or equivalent experience) in the relevant field. 

• Demonstrable track record of research specialism in history in Soviet history

• Proven ability to carry out high quality research and disseminate research findings

• The necessary language skills for the research (fluent Russian)

• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, report-writing skills and experience of delivering presentations

• Good computer literacy and data management practices.

• Ability to work both within a team and independently

• Ability to think strategically and innovatively

• Ability to plan and prioritise own daily work and forward plan

• Ability to organise and run conferences and workshops for academic and non-academic audiences

• Proven ability to work to and meet deadlines (Application/ Interview)

• An understanding of and demonstrable commitment to promoting and embedding equality, diversity & inclusion principles and practices (Application/ Interview)

Desirable criteria- – these will be assessed at application and interview stage

• Additional language skills (e.g. Kazakh)

• Experience of conducting research in Central Asia 

Further Information

Grade: 7.3 

Salary: £38,784 per annum

Duration: Fixed-term for 18 months from 1 September 2026 to 29 February 2028

Hours of work per week: Full-time

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/hpdh 

Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in June 2026 - full details will be shared with the shortlisted candidates ahead of the interview date. This will consist of an interview and submission of an article or chapter of your own research for the panel to review. 

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways 

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

  • support for those going through the menopause

  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Job Advert

This post has been designed for an outstanding research associate in the field of history.

The post-holder will conduct research on the 3-year project ‘The 101st kilometre: Soviet marginalization, migration, memory, and mapping’, funded by the Leverhulme Trust.  This project offers the first interdisciplinary investigation of the 101st kilometre in Soviet and post-Soviet cultures, combining expertise from history, cultural studies, and digital humanities. It will analyse and map 101st-kilometre practices of urban exclusion, migration, community–building, and commemoration across Ukraine, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

You will be working as part of a UK team led by Professor Polly Jones (PI, University of Oxford) and Dr Miriam Dobson (CoI, University of Sheffield). You will be responsible for the Kazakh case-study and spend ten weeks in Kazakhstan conducting research in archives and museums. You will process, catalogue, and analyse this material; contribute materials to the digital mapping output; and write a single-authored journal article and conference paper based on your case-study. In addition, you will conduct archival research at the Hoover Institution, USA, and in the UK, using digitized and print collections and collaborate with the Oxford-based research associate on the project website. 

The project requires a highly motivated research associate, with excellent communication skills and able to  produce research at the highest quality and develop the project’s research profile. You will need to have experience of archival research in the former Soviet Union and fluent knowledge of Russian.

You will join a dynamic team of researchers in the School and will be line-managed by Dr Miriam Dobson.

The School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities sits within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and combines internationally acknowledged research excellence with modern, imaginative teaching that enables our students to think for themselves and excel in the study of history, philosophy, archaeology and digital humanities.

We are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities which benefit the individual and University.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.