Research Fellow - Making Africa Urban

About us

University College London (UCL) is one of the world's top universities. Based in the heart of London, it is a dynamic, outward-looking institution. At its establishment in 1826, UCL was radical and responsive to the needs of society, and this ethos – that excellence should go hand-in-hand with enriching society – continues today.
The UCL Department of Geography is a leading UK and global department, with a heritage of excellence in research across a broad range of research themes.
The postholder will be part of a research team led by Prof Jennifer Robinson, for a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant-funded project, Making Africa Urban: the transcalar politics of large-scale urban development. Team members are also located in Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lilongwe and Johannesburg. In UCL Geography the postholder will be part of the Global Urbanisms research cluster.

About the role

This post involves undertaking research for the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant-funded project,Making Africa Urban: the transcalar politics of large-scale urban development.You will work closely with the PI Prof Jennifer Robinson to develop and direct a programme of comparative urban research within the framework of the grant.
The post will involve establishing collaborative relations and making logistical arrangements for undertaking research on line and in person in the selected case study cities, and sustaining regular interactions across the entire project team to achieve the planned research. The appointee will also write and contribute to writing academic outputs of the highest international standard.
See the project website for further details: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/urban-lab/research/research-projects/making-africa-urban-transcalar-politics-large-scale-urban-development.
Funding is available at Grade 7, spine point 30. This is a full time, fixed term post with funding available for one year. The appointment will be from 1 April 2024, or an agreed time after that.
Applications should include:

• Your full CV
• A 2 page statement, based on the information on the project website, about how your current research interests fit into the Making African Urban programme of research, particularly relating to private sector financing and investment in Africa.
• A 1000 word research proposal (excluding references from the word count) for a study of private sector financing and investment (private transnational circuits) shaping African urban development, which would advance the overall goals of the project.

Application deadline: 23:59 Wednesday 28th February 2024
Interviews: After 6th March 2024, exact date TBC

Further details of the department are at https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/
Informal enquiries may be made to Prof. Jennifer Robinson (jennifer.robinson@ucl.ac.uk).
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact the department’s research administration team: geog.research@ucl.ac.uk

About you

Applicants must hold a PhD in urban studies, or related urban field and have research experience in an African urban context relevant to the research project (especially Accra, Lilongwe, Dar es Salaam).
Knowledge of key debates in African and global urban studies, especially in relation to private sector financing and investment in urban development and experience with using relevant research methods, including in-depth interviews with key informants, compiling case studies, discourse and document analysis is essential.

What we offer

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
The Department of Geography is committed to the values of equality, diversity and inclusion and we have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and networks for BME, LGBTQ, and disabled/neurodiverse staff and students. The Department recognises the importance of family-friendly working and we try, as far as possible, to organise meetings and events with staff responsibilities as parents and carers in mind. In 2016, the Department was awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze award and recently gained the Silver award (October 2022) in recognition of our advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success. Above all the Department aims to be a supportive environment for both its staff and students. We especially welcome applications from candidates from under-represented backgrounds, and from candidates using a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches. More information can be found here:https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/