Welsh Election Study Postdoctoral Research Fellow

2026 WELSH ELECTION STUDY POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

The 2026 Welsh Election Study (WES 2026) is recruiting a full‑time Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) for a 30‑month position based at Swansea University, in collaboration with Aberystwyth University and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD). This role is part of a UKRI‑funded research project examining political attitudes and democratic engagement in Wales around the 2026 Senedd election.

The successful applicant will contribute to the preparation, analysis and visualisation of large‑scale public opinion data and help develop resources and training for academic, policy and educational users.

Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing and analysing survey data for publication.
• Creating an open‑access, bilingual public data dashboard to maximise accessibility and impact.
• Working with geospatial data to align the core survey dataset with other geographically encoded social research data.
• Supporting engagement events, workshops and briefings with project stakeholders.
• Assisting in meeting key project milestones and reporting requirements.

• PhD in Politics/Political Science, Data Science or a closely related field.
• Strong quantitative research skills and experience with survey data.
• Experience in data visualisation or public data engagement is especially valued.
• Proactive, collaborative and self‑motivated work style.

Contract Type:
Fixed Term (30 months)
Salary: £39,355 to £45,413 per annum
Working Pattern:
Full Time
Faculty/Directorate:
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Location:

Singleton Campus, Swansea
Closing Date: 15 Jan 2026
Interview Date: 23 Jan 2026

• Welsh Language
  
  Skills:
  
  Level 1 – a little. Applicants can pronounce Welsh words, answer telephone calls in Welsh and use basic everyday phrases. Applicants can take a one‑hour course to reach this level.
• Application Process: Submit a CV and cover letter via the university portal. Applications are accepted in Welsh or English.
• Contact Details: Prof Matthew Wall –
  Dr Bettina Petersohn –

We are committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all our practices and activities. We welcome applicants from all protected characteristics and ensure a fair and inclusive recruitment process.

• Dedicated training budget and mentorship from experienced researchers.
• Embedded collaboration with WISERD’s Data Lab team in Cardiff and Focus Games Ltd. in Glasgow.
• Opportunity to shape a high‑impact public resource while advancing your own research and professional development.

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