The British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) seeks to appoint two early career researchers who have successfully completed doctoral studies within the last five years as full-time Research Fellows at our research Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. These are fixed-term posts on two-year contracts. We will appoint one Research Fellow with a background in either history, archaeology or anthropology; and one Research Fellow with a background in either sociology, politics, geography or law. To conform with Kenyan legislation, applicants must have the right to live and work in Kenya.
In addition to conducting and publishing their own high-impact research, BIEA Research Fellows are expected to actively contribute to and promote the BIEA research community. The successful candidate will be assigned certain academic and administrative activities for which they will take a strategic lead and responsibility. They will also be expected to contribute to the running of, and to participate in BIEA events. Candidates should also demonstrate that their research is aligned with one of our six Research Themes:
- Africa in the World
- Retelling the Past
- Changing Environments
- Urban Lives
- Technologies of Politics
- Next Generations
Applicants must be available to start on 5 May 2026. Applications must be received by 17:00 East Africa Time, on Friday 6 March 2026. Late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and called for interviews, which will take place in the third week of March 2026.
Key duties will include:
- Conducting research in their own field of specialisation of strategic relevance to the BIEA, including carrying out field work or other research activities, and publishing in peer-reviewed and popular outputs. A research budget is available, but candidates are expected to apply for external funding to supplement this.
- Submission of at least two research papers to peer reviewed publications during the fellowship and/or submission of a book monograph to an academic publisher.
- Developing an academic research funding proposal that includes BIEA as a partner, and involves at least one UK-based academic, to be submitted during the fellowship.
- Overseeing certain aspects of BIEA activities, such as our graduate training programmes.
- Contributing to the academic environment of the BIEA by supporting visiting researchers and our academic partners with information and advice.
- Encouraging a collegial and dynamic academic environment by, for example, organizing research seminars and participating in events convened by the BIEA.
- Contributing to the BIEA blog and Annual Review.
- Representing the BIEA at academic meetings and conferences and helping the BIEA to develop its networks and partnerships.
Particulars:
- Applicants should have the right to live and work in Kenya and must be available to start on 5 May 2026.
- Applicants should have completed a PhD in the last five years on a regionally relevant topic within the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences (specified above).
- Applicants should be working on a research project that will contribute innovative and policy-relevant scholarship in the humanities and social sciences as they concern Eastern Africa.
- Applicants should have excellent English written and oral communication skills.
- Applicants based at a university or other organisation must have secured support from their employer for permission to take up a year-long external post.
- Salary and benefits package will be offered at a competitive rate for early-career postdoctoral Research Fellows in Kenya.
How to apply:
Applications should be submitted to [email protected] by 17:00 EAT on 6 MARCH 2026. Your application must include a full CV with details of two referees; a cover letter; and an outline that demonstrates your suitability for the post against the following essential and desirable criteria (maximum two-pages). It must contain evidence of:
Essential
- A PhD completed within the last five years.
- A record of excellent and innovative research related to one or more of the following disciplines: history, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, politics, geography or law
- Previous experience of applying for research funding
- Previous experience of organising academic events and of teaching or mentorship
- A plan for future research, including proposals for collaborative research funding bids and publications to be submitted to a high-impact journals/academic publishers.
Desirable
- A record of collaboration with international scholars on research projects and/or funding bids.
- Peer-reviewed publications (either published or forthcoming)
- A record of engagement with the BIEA research community and/or one of our six Research Themes (see above).
Potential applicants may contact the BIEA’s Country Director, Dr Kennedy Gitu, with specific questions: [email protected]
