About Position/Job
The University of Edinburgh is offering an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Cultural Evolution and Social Media Research to join a dynamic research team in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. This role is part of the Leverhulme Trust-funded project (2025–2028) titled “Weaponised Pasts: The Evolution of Heritage-based Hostility on Social Media”, under the supervision of Dr Zachary Horne. The position focuses on the cultural evolution of archaeological information, combining transmission chain experiments with advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques.
The post is based in Edinburgh, UK, and offers hybrid working, allowing for flexible engagement with both local and international collaborators. This position aligns with the department’s goal of advancing interdisciplinary research in psychology, linguistics, and cognitive science, and offers an opportunity to contribute to impactful studies on heritage, hostility, and social media communication using innovative methodologies.
Position/Job Details
- Position: Post-Doctoral Research Associate
- Institution: University of Edinburgh
- Department: School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
- Research field: Psychology, Cultural Evolution, NLP, Social Media Research
- Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Number of posts: 1
- Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term (Postdoctoral)
- Start Date (Anticipated): September 2026
- Working Hours: 35 hours per week
- Salary Range: £41,064 – £48,822 per annum
- Required Degree/Diploma: PhD
Research Area
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
- Cultural Evolution
- Diffusion of Information
- Social Media Research
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD (already defended) in relevant fields such as psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, or cultural evolution
- Experience in advanced experimental research and statistical analysis
- Ability to design experiments using Python or JavaScript
- Expertise in NLP using Python or R
Preferred Qualifications:
- Evidence of publications or preprints demonstrating relevant skills
- Experience with transmission chain experiments and social media data analysis
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct research on the cultural evolution of archaeological information
- Design and implement experiments and NLP pipelines
- Collaborate with team members and supervisors on interdisciplinary projects
- Analyse experimental and social media datasets using advanced statistics
- Contribute to publications, presentations, and project dissemination
Application Process
How to Apply: Submit your application via the University of Edinburgh online portal. Highlight your relevant skills, research experience, and interdisciplinary expertise in your cover letter.
Required Documents:
- Current CV
- One representative publication or preprint demonstrating relevant skills
- Cover letter including names of three referees (optional to contact after offer)
Important Dates
- Application Opens: Now
- Deadline: 27 January 2026, 11:59 pm GMT
- Interview Date: February 2026 (expected, with two weeks’ notice to successful candidates)
Useful Links
- Institution Website: University of Edinburgh
- Official Notification Link: click here
- Apply now: click here
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