Heriot-Watt University
3 days ago
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
Country
United Kingdom
University
Heriot-Watt University

How do I apply for this?
Sign in for free to reveal details, requirements, and source links.
Apply for this position
Keywords
Suggested positions
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
Ask ApplyKite AI

How do I apply for this?
Sign in for free to reveal details, requirements, and source links.