Fully Funded Marie Curie PhD in Constitutional Militarisation, Security and Democratic Reform at Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, UK (Salary GBP 49,664)

Birmingham Law School at the University of Birmingham invites applications for a fully funded doctoral post, advertised as Marie Curie Research Fellow (PhD Funded), reference 108012, Grade 7. The post is full time, on a fixed term contract up to August 2030, and is based at the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. UK and international travel may be required.

The post forms part of the international multi-site research programme A Sociology of Post-Imperial Islamic Legal Cultures: Insights from Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia (MINARET), which is based at the University of Lund and funded under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks. The Principal Investigator at the University of Birmingham is Prof Chris Thornhill (Law).

This post is focused on Constitutional Militarisation, Security and Democratic Reform. The appointee will conduct doctoral-level research that examines military influence on constitutional governance in societies with large Islamic populations, with some coverage of Egypt, Türkiye and Sudan.

The research will examine how military institutions shape constitutional governance and will assess how legal reforms can strengthen civilian oversight of the military, reduce military dominance and promote democratic transitions.

• Fixed salary of GBP 49,664 (Grade 7, spot); additional allowances may be applicable depending on circumstances.
• Full time, fixed term contract up to August 2030.
• The successful candidate will work in a team, travel to conferences and regular network training events, and undertake two secondments abroad, one academic and one non-academic, each of between two and six months.

• A degree which formally entitles the candidate to start a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited.
• Candidates cannot have been awarded a doctoral degree and/or completed more than four years of full-time equivalent research experience.
• Mobility rule: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies) in the hosting country (the UK) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

The advert sets no nationality restriction, so a candidate from India who meets these conditions (including the mobility rule) may apply.

• High level analytical capability and the ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and the ability to contribute to developing new ones.
• Ability to plan and organise research, assess resource requirements and coordinate own work with others.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to ensure those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Apply online through the University of Birmingham careers portal (job 108012) using the Apply link. The closing date is 31 January 2027. Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Christopher Thornhill.

The University notes that written application material should reflect the applicant's own communication style: applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and are unlikely to be progressed to interview.