PhD in Women’s Political Engagement in West Africa (1945-1960) University of Sheffield in United Kingdom

The School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities at the University of Sheffield invites applications for a fully-funded PhD position focusing on women’s political engagement in West Africa from 1945 to 1960. This opportunity is part of Dr. Sarah Frank’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project, ‘Rebuilding lives, redefining belonging: ex-soldiers, their families and communities in post-war Africa, 1945-60’.

The successful candidate will specialise in the political engagement stream of Francophone West Africa, with the flexibility to develop their own dissertation topic within the broader theme. Research may focus on Senegal or the West African Federation (AOF) and will involve archival work in Senegal, France, and the UK. The project encourages the use of digital humanities methodologies and oral history approaches, providing a unique interdisciplinary training environment.

This PhD is embedded in a larger research team examining the experiences of African veterans and their families through three streams: political engagement, physical and mental health, and everyday life under colonialism. The project aims to trace the impacts of war trauma across generations, exploring how African soldiers and their families rebuilt their lives and contributed to the creation of new independent nations after WWII. A key focus is on challenging the assumption that political engagement was male-dominated, instead highlighting the roles of women and families in post-war reintegration and independence movements.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative team including Dr. Sarah Frank (Project Lead), Dr. Mutale Mazimba Kaunda (Research Associate, University of Zambia), a postdoctoral research associate working on Senegal, and a project administrator. The position is fully funded for 3.5 years at standard RCUK rates for Home fees and stipend, starting in April 2026.

Applicants must be fluent in French, with knowledge of Wolof, Serere, or Pulaar considered an asset. Candidates should have a strong academic background in history or a related field, and an interest in archival research, oral history, and digital humanities. For further details and to apply, visit the University of Sheffield’s postgraduate study pages. The application deadline is March 9, 2026.