SOAS, University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) will launch the SOAS South Asia Institute (SAI) in 2014. The SAI will be at the forefront of a major strategic initiative, designed to confirm and strengthen the position of SOAS as the UK’s foremost centre of research, teaching, and outreach with reference to South Asia. The Institute will be an interdisciplinary knowledge hub bringing together the expertise of one of the largest communities of South Asia scholars housed under one roof in the Western world. It will promote independent, critical analysis, provide new and exciting opportunities for postgraduate training and postdoctoral research, and produce scholarly work of the highest international quality.

To support this initiative, the School seeks to appoint to this newly created Senior Lecturer/Reader position a scholar who has an established international reputation for research, preferably in the social sciences, and can display extensive experience of collaborative work in an interdisciplinary context. The successful candidate will assume, either immediately or after a brief period of adjustment, the post of Deputy Director of the SAI, for a period that is negotiable. The position will be attached to one of the academic departments of SOAS, but all duties and responsibilities of the post will be connected to the SOAS South Asia Institute.

You will contribute to the development and expansion of the Institute, in terms of both postdoctoral research and postgraduate (research) training. You will support the Director in carrying out outreach and fundraising activities on behalf of the SAI, and in promoting the SAI community and its expertise both internally and externally.  You will help to establish a new Centre of Indian Studies within the SAI and may also serve as its chair.

You will have an outstanding record in scholarship and research in contemporary Indian studies in one or more of the social sciences. You will possess fluency in a South Asian language. Additionally, you will have a strong ability to work with staff across a wide range of disciplines in order to formulate new teaching programmes, help organize outreach activities, and promote interdisciplinary research. You will be able and willing to play an active role in media activities relating to contemporary developments in India.

Interviews will be held during week commencing: 6 January 2014

We particularly welcome applications from women, from disabled people and from black minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within SOAS at senior levels.

Senior Lecturer: £48,075 – £55,367 p.a inclusive of London Allowance

Vacancy No:  000584

To apply, go here.