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Heriot-Watt University

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Intellectual History of Liberal Political Economy Heriot-Watt University in United Kingdom

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Political Science

Funding

Full-time fixed-term postdoctoral role for 33 months. Salary is Grade 7, £37,694–£47,389 per annum. Standard employment benefits include 33 days annual leave plus 9 closed days and Christmas Eve when applicable.

Deadline

Sep 27, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

Heriot-Watt University

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Keywords

Political Science
International Relations
Philosophy
History
Economic History
Political Economy
Political Theory
Intellectual History
Economics

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About this position

Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Intellectual History of Liberal Political Economy at Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom).

This is a postdoctoral opening within the project Markets Under Siege: How Geoeconomic Competition Undermines Free Markets, based at Panmure House and reporting to Professor Adam Dixon (Adam Smith Chair, Principal Investigator).

The role leads Component 3 of the project: Intellectual History of Liberal Market Principles Under Competitive Pressure. The research examines how liberal thinkers from Adam Smith to Cold War liberals understood the relationship between market freedom, state intervention, security, and international competition. It also engages with alternative traditions such as Friedrich List and the national system of political economy, and connects historical frameworks to contemporary policy debates such as semiconductor and export control policy.

The postholder will conduct close readings of primary texts and secondary literature, develop conceptual analysis, contribute to the project’s workshops and public engagement, and lead drafting of peer-reviewed articles and public-facing essays. The wider project includes monthly team meetings, quarterly integration workshops, and international events in Edinburgh, Washington DC, Asia, and London.

Requirements: PhD in intellectual history, economic history, history of economic thought, political theory, political economy, or a cognate field; strong expertise in liberal political economy; proven close textual/contextual analysis; ability to write for specialist and non-specialist audiences. Desirable skills include German/French reading knowledge, archival research, and public-facing writing.

Funding and terms: Full-time fixed-term post for 33 months. Salary: £37,694–£47,389 per annum. Benefits include annual leave and closed days.

Deadline: 27 September 2026 at midnight UK time. Interviews are expected on 1 October 2026.

How to apply: Submit an application through the Heriot-Watt University online candidate portal using the job link provided. Prepare your materials before the deadline and monitor the portal for any further instructions.

Funding details

Full-time fixed-term postdoctoral role for 33 months. Salary is Grade 7, £37,694–£47,389 per annum. Standard employment benefits include 33 days annual leave plus 9 closed days and Christmas Eve when applicable.

What's required

PhD awarded or expected before the start date in intellectual history, economic history, history of economic thought, political theory, political economy, or a cognate discipline. Applicants should have demonstrable expertise in the history of liberal political economy, including detailed knowledge of Adam Smith and the Scottish Enlightenment and/or twentieth-century liberal thought. Strong close textual and contextual analysis skills are required, along with evidence of rigorous scholarship through publications or a completed doctoral thesis. Candidates should be able to connect historical scholarship to contemporary questions without collapsing the distinction between them and write clearly for specialist and non-specialist audiences. Desirable: reading knowledge of German and/or French, familiarity with Cold War intellectual history and strategic technology competition, archival research experience, public-facing writing, and public history/anniversary engagement experience.

How to apply

Apply online through the Heriot-Watt University candidate portal. Submit applications by midnight UK time on 27 September 2026. Interviews are expected on 1 October 2026.

More information can be found here

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