Postdoctoral fellowships

Student working at a laptop in the Laidlaw Library

The School of Law is an excellent setting in which to conduct postdoctoral research. It has a vibrant and supportive research culture, which coheres around our four research centres and multiple, smaller research hubs or groups. Our academic staff are world-leading experts in a range of research topics and approaches that span law, socio-legal studies, criminal justice and criminology. We also have a busy programme of events, including large academic conferences and guest lectures by visiting international scholars or senior practitioners working in various areas of law or criminal justice. As full members of staff, postdoctoral researchers have access to library facilities, training courses and a huge range of other resources and opportunities.

The School of Law welcomes interest from prospective postdoctoral researchers. We are particularly keen to host postdoctoral researchers whose work aligns to one (or more) of our existing research centres. These are:

We will also consider other areas of research if there is sufficient alignment with the expertise of Leeds colleagues. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact research centre directors or potential individual hosts/mentors to discuss their research interests and plans further.

Postdoctoral researchers need to secure funding for their research. We welcome applicants who are interested in applying to one of the schemes below. After identifying a suitable funding scheme, applicants are invited to submit a School Expression of Interest form for review by the Director of Research and Innovation (DoRILaw@leeds.ac.uk). The School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences provide support to applicants while completing an application but we do require sufficient time to do this properly. It is therefore important that prospective applicants for postdoctoral funding complete the Expression of Interest form and send it to the Director of Research and Innovation at the earliest possible opportunity and at least 6 weeks prior to the deadline for the postdoctoral funding scheme to which they are applying. It is not necessary to wait for a call to open before submitting an Expression of Interest.

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships (deadline 5pm 16 January 2025)

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships (next call likely to open in July 2025 and have an October 2025 deadline)

British Academy International Fellowships (next call likely to open in January 2025 and have a March 2025 deadline)

Horizon Europe MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (next call likely to open in April 2025 and have a September 2025 deadline)

Interested parties are welcome to contact the Director of Research and Innovation (DoRILaw@leeds.ac.uk) if they have further questions.