Research Assistants x 3, Christianity on Trial

Internal Applicants Only

Deadline: 25 May 2022

Dr Lena Rose is looking for three research assistants to help with her Leverhulme Trust funded project, ‘Christianity on Trial: Asylum, Conversion, and the Modern Nation-State’.

The project examines the negotiation of ‘Christianity’ through the lens of asylum adjudications of claimants based on the fear of religious persecution following a conversion to Christianity. In these cases, secular judges have to assess the genuineness of the conversion, and risks of practising Christianity in the country of origin of the applicants. This study of case law and ethnographic fieldwork at courts in Germany and the UK explores the tensions between culture, religion, and power in the negotiation of what 'Christianity' is.

Tasks will include data entry and transcription (Research Assistant role 1), data entry (Research Assistant role 2) and digital research, analysis and documentation (Research Assistant role 3).

Duration and hours
Total number of hours of work available: 40 hours (Research Assistant role 1), 30 hours (Research Assistant role 2), and 60 hours (Research Assistant role 3 (differences in available hours reflect differing role-specific responsibilities; see below).

Start date: 1 June 2022

Date by which the work must be completed: 20 August 2022

Reporting
The Research Assistants will report to Dr. Lena Rose.

Requirements
Research Assistant role 1:

• Training in empirical research is essential.
• Good spreadsheet (Excel) skills are essential.
• Experience of asylum law and the asylum process in the following countries is desirable: UK, United States, Australia, Canada.
• Understanding of the field of religion and law is desirable.

Research Assistant role 2:

• Knowledge of German is essential.
• Training in empirical research is essential.
• Good spreadsheet (Excel) skills are essential.
• Experience of asylum law and the asylum process in Germany is desirable.
• Understanding of the field of religion and law is desirable.

Research Assistant role 3:

• A knowledge of Farsi is essential.
• Experience in empirical research is essential.
• Good spreadsheet (Excel) skills are essential.
• Experience with the analysis of social media and other types of media is desirable.
• Experience of asylum law and the asylum process in the following countries is desirable: UK, United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey.
• Understanding of the field of religion and law or religious studies is desirable.

Work for all three research assistant roles can be done in any place in the UK where you have access to a good internet connection. Meetings with the PI/team members will be held in Oxford or online.

Eligibility
These positions are open to current graduate students in the Law Faculty and the hours are in line with the restrictions on working hours for students in each of those departments. Applications are also invited from the Department for International Development and the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, and from the Faculty of Oriental Studies for Research Assistant role 3. It is expected that the work will be undertaken in the UK.

Rate of Pay
This will be paid at the standard research assistant rate of £15.60 per hour (based on Grade 6 point 1)  plus holiday pay of £1.88 per hour worked (= total of £17.48/hour). Holiday pay will be paid in the month in which is accrued.

Funding
These positions are funded by a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship

How to Apply
A short CV and cover letter (including the name of your supervisor) should be sent by email to Dr. Lena Rose (lena.rose@csls.ox.ac.uk) by the 25^th May. Please explain which role you are interested in, how you meet the requirements for the role, and give details of your availability. Supervisors may be asked for a reference. 

Informal enquiries may be emailed to Dr. Lena Rose (lena.rose@csls.ox.ac.uk).