Postdoctoral Research Fellow/ Research Fellow in Sociology

• Work with Dr Michelle Peterie and the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies team to generate foundational knowledge about children’s experiences of immigration detention and deportation
• Full-time (1.0FTE) for 2 years with the possibility of extension OR part-time (0.6FTE) for 3 years with the possibility of extension
• Academic Level A/ B, Base salary from $109,301 (pro rata) + 17% superannuation
• Start February 2025

About the opportunity

The Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies (SCHS) is a Flagship Centre for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The University of Sydney, housing leading humanities and social science scholars working across various spheres of health and wellbeing. Our work in the Centre spans the key research themes of 1) Politics and Economies of Health and Wellbeing; 2) Race, Ethnicity and the Biohumanities; 3) Health/Care Across Time, Place and Scale; 4) Work, Education and Welfare; 5) The Social Life of Food and Nourishment; and 6) Migration, Im/mobility and Belonging.

The School of Social and Political Sciences (SSPS) at The University of Sydney is a leading social science environment, with outstanding staff and students undertaking world-leading teaching and research. The School comprises the disciplines of Sociology and Criminology, Anthropology, Government and International Relations, and Political Economy.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Level A) or Research Fellow (Level B) to join our team at the University of Sydney’s Camperdown campus. The fixed-term role is available full-time (1.0FTE) for 2 years, or part-time (0.6FTE) for three years. The initial contract may be extended subject to performance and funding.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow/ Research Fellow will work under the guidance of Dr Michelle Peterie, Professor Alex Broom and Professor Greg Marston, alongside a dynamic team of social science researchers, ‘expert by experience’ advisory board members, and community collaborators.

The successful candidate with contribute to a growing program of research about the impacts of immigration detention and deportation on children and families. In particular, they will make critical contributions to a recently funded Australian Research Council Linkage Project entitled The Forgotten Children, Ten Years On. This project is being undertaken in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission and aims to generate a combination of high-quality peer-reviewed publications and translational outputs to inform policy and practice.

Applicants should have a background in a relevant discipline such as (but not limited to) sociology, criminology, social work, or anthropology. More than specialisation in a particular discipline or sub-field, we are looking for demonstrated potential for scholarly excellence and collaboration. Experience undertaking qualitative research on sensitive topics is essential, as are highly developed skills in writing, qualitative data analysis and project management, and the ability to build and maintain generative relationships with diverse stakeholders. Skills in quantitative data analysis are desirable but not essential.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• undertake qualitative fieldwork (local and interstate), including conducting in-depth interviews with people who were detained by Australia as children
• lead or contribute to the analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data
• lead