Research Fellow in Emotions and Grievance Politics
| Posting date: | 13 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £36,636 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 27 January 2026 |
| Location: | Southampton, Hampshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Southampton |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 3312626CC |
Summary
Research Fellow in Emotions and Grievance Politics
The Department of Politics and International Relations (PAIR) at the University of Southampton, UK, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher (100% FTE) to join the Horizon Europe project PLEDGE. This interdisciplinary project, spanning from February 2024 to January 2027, delves into the emotional expressions of grievance politics and implications for democratic governance and political mobilization. Led by Dr. Tereza Capelos, Professor in Political Psychology at PAIR, the Southampton team is at the forefront of groundbreaking research aimed at understanding the emotional dynamics shaping contemporary political landscapes.
Project Overview:
Website: More information is available at the PLEDGE website: https://www.pledgeproject.eu/
Responsibilities:
Engage in conceptual and empirical research on emotionality in politics, focusing on themes such as grievance politics, ressentiment, anti-democratic support, affective polarisation and populist politics
Utilize a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, including experiments, longitudinal surveys, and interviews to explore the role of emotions in political preferences and policy dynamics
Analyse research findings and disseminate results through academic publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination activities
Contribute to project organization and participate in project-related events and activities
Attend regular meetings with the local project team and the European consortium
Contribute to the intellectual life of the University of Southampton through participation in seminars, workshops, and departmental meetings
Disseminate information about PLEDGE research outputs through electronic and social media, as well as in written form.
Selection Criteria: Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Hold a PhD in Political Science or Psychology, focusing on the psychological dynamics of emotionality in the context of grievance, populist politics, and challenges to democracy, using experimental and quantitative methods.
Demonstrate an emerging publication record in key debates on emotionality, ressentiment, grievance politics, and populism.
Possess expertise in the design, implementation, and analysis of experiments and the ability to analyse survey and interview data using STATA, SPSS, R,Nvivoand other quantitative and qualitative data analysis packages.
Exhibit project management and data management skills, preferably in the context of quantitative projects.
Show active engagement with the field of political psychology through participation in conferences, workshops, and other knowledge exchange events.
Have proficiency in English, with proficiency or near-proficiency in German, Greek, Spanish, Swedish, Finish, Hungarian, Dutch, French, or Turkish being desirable.
Information: For enquiries about the project and the position, please contact Dr. Tereza Capelos at t.capelos@soton.ac.uk. For further information about the PAIR Department, please contact Head of Department, Pia Riggirozzi at p.riggirozzi@soton.ac.uk.
We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply. The University of Southampton promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its activities.
The Department of Politics and International Relations (PAIR) at the University of Southampton, UK, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher (100% FTE) to join the Horizon Europe project PLEDGE. This interdisciplinary project, spanning from February 2024 to January 2027, delves into the emotional expressions of grievance politics and implications for democratic governance and political mobilization. Led by Dr. Tereza Capelos, Professor in Political Psychology at PAIR, the Southampton team is at the forefront of groundbreaking research aimed at understanding the emotional dynamics shaping contemporary political landscapes.
Project Overview:
Website: More information is available at the PLEDGE website: https://www.pledgeproject.eu/
Responsibilities:
Engage in conceptual and empirical research on emotionality in politics, focusing on themes such as grievance politics, ressentiment, anti-democratic support, affective polarisation and populist politics
Utilize a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, including experiments, longitudinal surveys, and interviews to explore the role of emotions in political preferences and policy dynamics
Analyse research findings and disseminate results through academic publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination activities
Contribute to project organization and participate in project-related events and activities
Attend regular meetings with the local project team and the European consortium
Contribute to the intellectual life of the University of Southampton through participation in seminars, workshops, and departmental meetings
Disseminate information about PLEDGE research outputs through electronic and social media, as well as in written form.
Selection Criteria: Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Hold a PhD in Political Science or Psychology, focusing on the psychological dynamics of emotionality in the context of grievance, populist politics, and challenges to democracy, using experimental and quantitative methods.
Demonstrate an emerging publication record in key debates on emotionality, ressentiment, grievance politics, and populism.
Possess expertise in the design, implementation, and analysis of experiments and the ability to analyse survey and interview data using STATA, SPSS, R,Nvivoand other quantitative and qualitative data analysis packages.
Exhibit project management and data management skills, preferably in the context of quantitative projects.
Show active engagement with the field of political psychology through participation in conferences, workshops, and other knowledge exchange events.
Have proficiency in English, with proficiency or near-proficiency in German, Greek, Spanish, Swedish, Finish, Hungarian, Dutch, French, or Turkish being desirable.
Information: For enquiries about the project and the position, please contact Dr. Tereza Capelos at t.capelos@soton.ac.uk. For further information about the PAIR Department, please contact Head of Department, Pia Riggirozzi at p.riggirozzi@soton.ac.uk.
We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply. The University of Southampton promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its activities.
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