Postdoctoral Research Position
Muslim Societies in Latin America and the Caribbean at the University of Edinburgh
7/29/20263 min read
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate (0.8 FTE, fixed term for 24 months) to join the internationally funded research project ‘The Global Landscapes of Muslim Lives: Latin American and Caribbean Intersections’, led by Dr Kholoud Al-Ajarma (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Ken Chitwood (University of Bayreuth), and funded by the AHRC and DFG.
The Opportunity:
This is an exciting opportunity to develop and deliver an independent programme of ethnographic and qualitative research on contemporary Muslim communities in Latin America and/or the Caribbean. Working within the Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, you will undertake original fieldwork, contribute to high-quality publications, collaborate with an international research team, and play a key role in shaping new understandings of Muslim lives, networks and institutions in an under-researched global context.
The postholder will also contribute to knowledge exchange and public engagement activities, and help organise international workshops and symposia that bring together scholars and stakeholders from across the globe.
This post is part-time (28 hours per week); however, we are open to considering alternative part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.
Your skills and attributes for success:
A PhD in Anthropology, Sociology, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, Politics and International Relations, Area Studies, or a related discipline.
Demonstrable experience conducting independent qualitative and/or ethnographic research, including fieldwork.
Research expertise relating to Islam and Muslim communities in Latin America and/or the Caribbean.
Strong publication potential, analytical skills, and excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively within an international research team while managing projects, deadlines and competing priorities effectively.
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Application Information
Please ensure you upload the following documents as part of your application:
Your CV
A cover letter of no more than three pages which includes details of the research you propose to undertake if your application is successful.
Two samples of your academic writing (e.g. academic article or book chapter, a chapter of your PhD dissertation)
Two academic references
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
A competitive salary.
An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
The University is able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. If successful, an international applicant requiring sponsorship to work in the UK will need to satisfy the UK Home Office’s English Language requirements and apply for and secure a Skilled Worker Visa.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 26 August 2026.
Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.
Interviews will be fully online via Microsoft Teams.
ABOUT US
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World is an interdisciplinary research, teaching and outreach centre based at the University of Edinburgh and most closely associated to the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. The Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre is committed to encouraging a better understanding of contemporary Islam and the globalised Muslim world through ground-breaking research, dynamic teaching and innovative outreach projects: UoE Centre website.
The Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre is part of the Alwaleed Cultural Network, a global network of academic centres, museums and cultural organisation collaborating across three continents. Alwaleed Cultural Network website.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
"The Global Landscapes of Muslim Lives: Latin American and Caribbean Intersections" is a new, collaborative research project, co-led by Dr. Kholoud Al-Ajarma (University of Edinburgh) and Dr. Ken Chitwood (Universität Bayreuth), seeks to make a timely intervention in global Islamic studies by centering Muslim communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite longstanding Muslim presences across these regions — rooted in histories of colonization, enslavement, indenture, migration, trade, and conversion — scholarly engagement often remains limited, episodic, or framed through external geopolitical lenses. This three-year British–German collaboration (January 2026–December 2028) aims to document and analyze the everyday realities of Muslim life across diverse local contexts while situating them within global dynamics and transregional networks of encounter and exchange. You can read more HERE.