Research Associate - The Business of Bordering

Overview

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on the ESRC funded "The Business of Bordering" research project. The postholder will work under the supervision of Dr. Lucy Mayblin (University of Sheffield), in collaboration with Dr. Joe Turner (University of York) and Dr. Martin Lemberg Pedersen (University of Southern Denmark). The project, starting in September 2026, focuses on how the UK and Denmark experiment with, propagate and normalise private border security businesses. The role will concentrate on the Danish part of the project, requiring fluency in Danish, excellent English, and experience with financial datasets, public/private contract analysis, and company profiling. Training will be provided but a strong enthusiasm for independent desk based data compilation in spreadsheets is essential.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Reading and reviewing relevant literature.
• Building a dataset of border security contracts in the Danish context.
• Desk based policy analysis and stakeholder mapping in Danish and English.
• Undertaking qualitative field research, including elite interviews and observations at border security sector events.
• Attending and presenting at academic seminars, workshops and conferences.
• Assisting in writing the project website/blog, newsletters, reports and scholarly publications.
• Contributing to conference presentations, practitioner workshops and research advisory group meetings, and assisting in running them.
• Carrying 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.

Essential Requirements

• PhD (or close to completion) in a relevant social science or humanities discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Fluency in the Danish language.
• Familiarity with relevant policy areas (Danish borders and immigration systems, other Danish government and policy systems).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in both Danish and English.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Familiarity with relevant research areas (critical border and migration studies, political economy, outsourcing, the arms trade, security technologies).

Desirable Requirements

• Experience with financial data, for example using financial investigative journalism techniques or other relevant approaches.
• Experience with stakeholder mapping.
• Experience with policy discourse analysis.

Further Information

• Grade: 7
• Salary: £38,784 - £41,064 per annum
• Work arrangement: Full time
• Duration: From 1 September 2026 for 30 months
• Line manager: Project PI
• Website:

Contact

For more information about the project, please contact Lucy Mayblin ().

Disability Confident Leader

We are a Disability Confident Leader. 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.