Overview

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Medicine without Doctors) at The University of Edinburgh, School of Social and Political Science. This full-time, fixed-term position is graded UE07 with a salary of £41,064 to £48,822 per annum. The appointment is for 60 months, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, based on campus in Edinburgh.The Opportunity

You will join the Wellcome-funded research project,

Medicine without Doctors: Reimagining Care and Voice through Play , which examines the changing landscape of medical authority, voice and care. You will be responsible for developing your own 5-year project on the Physician Associate case study, aligning with the Medicine without Doctors wider vision and combining methodological approaches from medical sociology, medical anthropology, STS, and history, to study the emergence and standardisation of the role of the Physician Associate in the UK national health service.Medicine without Doctors is a six-year Wellcome-funded project exploring the changing authority of medical practices in the UK through four case studies: LGBTQ+ health, Autonomous Systems, abortion care, and the physician associate. The project is underpinned by two theoretical pillars: the sociology of care and the philosophy of voice. It brings together a multidisciplinary team from philosophy, socio-legal studies, STS, history, sociology and design, with the aim of creating new interdisciplinary knowledge. In this project, we are excited to develop and draw on play methodologies collaboratively. Through play we seek to advance all aspects of the project creatively and will engage entrenched issues with new perspectives and approaches.This full-time post is fixed-term for 60 months from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, and is based on-campus.Responsibilities

Develop your own 5-year project on the Physician Associate case study, aligning with the Medicine without Doctors wider vision and combining methodological approaches from medical sociology, medical anthropology, STS, and history, to study the emergence and standardisation of the role of the Physician Associate in the UK national health service.Skills and Qualifications

A PhD awarded in a relevant discipline e.g. social sciences, history, science and technology studies, anthropology, or other discipline with a strong background in conducting qualitative research and engaging with law and policy.Knowledge and understanding of current issues in medicine and health systems.Experience designing and conducting empirical research including organising, conducting, collecting, managing and analysing data from interviews, focus groups, surveys, or other forms of data collection.Experience working independently and collaboratively with others to deliver projects.Ability to work in a compassionate and socially responsible manner.Application Information

As part of your application, please submit a CV and covering letter that addresses your suitability for the role, as well as a one-page description of a research project you would like to pursue in this role.Informal questions about this post can be directed to the Hiring Manger, Dr Lukas Engelmann, Co-Investigator, via email at Lukas.Engelmann@ed.ac.uk. External applicants, please refer to the guidance in ‘How to Join Us’ to support your application process. For current employees interested in applying for this role, please apply as an internal applicant through the People and Money Current Jobs app.Benefits

As a valued member of our team you can expect:A competitive salary.An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.Comprehensive staff benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives.Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages. The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.Key Dates

The closing date for applications is 2nd October 2025. Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone. Intereviews will typically be held 2-3 weeks after the closing date.About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.About The Team

The School of Social and Political Science (SPS) is one of the largest and most successful schools of social science in the UK, with global reach and local and global impact. The academic staff complement currently numbers c.265fte. The School has c. 2,600 undergraduate and postgraduate taught students on its programmes of study, and c. 250 doctoral researchers. The School’s primary aim is to advance and disseminate knowledge in social science and to provide an outstanding educational environment for students. In REF 2021, SPS performed strongly across Units of Assessment and contributed to top-ranked rankings. For further information about our school please contact the SPS Office or visit the School website after applications have been submitted.

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