Stefanie Reher

Two postdoctoral research associate positions are available on the ESRC-funded project Disability and Political Parties (DISPOP) . One postdoc is based at the University of Southampton and the other at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow). The project is a comparative study of political science , disability , and political parties across Denmark, Germany, Spain, and the UK . It examines how disabled people feel about, experience, and engage with political parties, from joining parties to becoming activists and standing for selection and election as candidates. DISPOP aims to identify and compare barriers within political parties experienced by disabled people, map and evaluate party initiatives and best practices, explore whether formal rules and informal norms make parties ableist institutions, and co-produce recommendations with disabled people to improve accessibility in politics. The research uses mixed methods , including interviews, ethnographic research, surveys, and survey experiments. The poster specifically notes that the team is looking for a Danish speaker and a Spanish speaker to support the comparative work. This is a 2-year postdoctoral opportunity with an anticipated start date of January 2027 , with some flexibility. The application deadline is 14 September 2026 . Interested candidates should review the Southampton and Strathclyde vacancy adverts and follow the university application instructions. If you know someone who may be a fit, the post encourages forwarding the opportunity.