Research Associate – Sport, Hate and Prevention: Countering Radicalization Through Athletic Inclusion

Job Description:

This is an opportunity to join a British Academy-funded international research project (PPHE26/100098) led by Professor Győző Molnár, establishing a UK-Sweden-Hungary research network examining sport discrimination and radicalisation prevention. The project aims to develop a competitive Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA) proposal by building international partnerships, conducting systematic evidence reviews, and engaging key stakeholders across three European countries.

The Research Assistant will provide essential support across the full scope of the project. As part of the role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Conduct systematic literature reviews on sport-based discrimination, social exclusion, and radicalisation prevention across European contexts.
• Map and compile profiles of key stakeholders, including sport organisations, anti-discrimination bodies, radicalisation prevention practitioners, civil society organisations, and policymakers at national and EU levels.
• Support the development of the Horizon Europe CSA proposal, including drafting sections, compiling evidence summaries, preparing budget documentation, and coordinating input from international partners.
• Assist with consortium coordination, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas and minutes, maintaining project records, and liaising with partners in Sweden and Hungary.
• Contribute to the identification and review of relevant EU-funded predecessor projects in the radicalisation prevention field.
• Support the organisation of network events, including stakeholder workshops and advisory board meetings.
• Assist with the preparation of project outputs, including policy briefs, evidence summaries, and academic publications.

You will hold, or be close to completing, a postgraduate qualification (Masters or PhD) in sociology, sport studies, political science, or a related social science discipline. You will be able to demonstrate familiarity with social science research methods, strong written and analytical skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of an international team. Experience of systematic reviewing, grant writing, or working on externally funded research projects would be desirable. Knowledge of European sport policy, migration, discrimination, or radicalisation prevention would be an advantage but is not essential.

This post offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in international collaborative research, EU funding processes, and the development of a large-scale European research proposal.

For any informal enquiries, please contact Győző Molnar, [email protected].

This vacancy is funded by an external grant awarded to the University of Worcester, and as such can only be paid at a fixed point of our salary bands. The University will not be able to negotiate the salary rate as it will only receive a fixed amount from the funder (The British Academy). For this post, 200 hours are available and the funding amount is equivalent to Band 6, Point 22 on our salary scale. This is broken down to £16.19 per hour, plus £2.43 per hour holiday pay.

Please note that if not already an employee of the University of Worcester, the appointed candidate will be employed through our subsidiary company Uniworc Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of University of Worcester. Appointees of Uniworc Limited will automatically be enrolled into the Aviva FlexHE defined contribution pension scheme (subject to earnings and other eligibility criteria).

Please note that this post does not meet the minimum salary requirements for visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route. We are therefore unable to consider applicants for this post who will require sponsorship to work in the UK.

Closing Date: 11 Jun 2026

Sub Department: Research