Key Points
- The University of Oxford has opened applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Quantitative Political Science linked to its Voter ID Project.
- The post is based in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Oxford and is a full-time, fixed-term role.
- The advert says the appointment starts on 1 September 2026 and runs for 12 months.
- The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 26 June 2026.
- The salary is listed at £39,424 to £43,984 per annum, Research Grade 7.
- The project examines the effects of mandatory photo ID on voters’ behaviour and attitudes in the UK.
- The research combines original surveys with embedded experiments and historical evidence from Northern Ireland and the English voter ID trials of 2018 and 2019.
- The successful candidate will work with Professor Petra Schleiter and the wider team, including Professors Margit Tavits and Jonathan Homola.
- Applicants need a doctorate, or to be near completion of one, in political science or a related field, plus experience of survey experiments, survey design, survey data analysis and advanced quantitative methods.The
Oxford(Oxford Daily)May 25, 2026 – The University of Oxford has opened applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Quantitative Political Science, a fixed-term research post tied to its ESRC-funded Voter ID Project. The vacancy is listed within the Department of Politics and International Relations, and the university says the role is full-time, based in Oxford, and available from 1 September 2026.
As reported in the Oxford department advert, the project focuses on the effects of mandatory photo ID on voters’ behaviour and attitudes in the UK, where citizens do not have national ID cards. It combines original surveys with embedded experiments and historical analysis of voter ID changes in Northern Ireland in the early 2000s and the English voter ID trials of 2018 and 2019.
The role sits within a research team led by Professor Petra Schleiter as principal investigator, alongside co-investigators Professor Margit Tavits and Professor Jonathan Homola. The Oxford advert says the postholder will help design survey experiments, code and test survey instruments, monitor data collection with a survey firm, and carry out data-quality checks.
What the post involves
The advert says the fellow will contribute directly to the research process rather than only support administration. Responsibilities include adapting existing methods, developing new methods suited to the data, and managing research tasks with initiative and judgement. The post is framed as a quantitative research role, with a strong emphasis on survey work and data analysis.
The university also says applicants should have, or be close to finishing, a doctorate in political science or a related discipline. Required experience includes survey experiments, survey design, survey data analysis, advanced quantitative methods, research design, and working in R. The advert also highlights the need for a proactive, flexible and problem-solving approach, as well as communication skills for working with the project team and policy stakeholders.
Application details
The application process is online through the University of Oxford jobs page. Candidates must upload a recent CV and a supporting statement, and the advert says two referees are not required in the current 2026 version on jobs.ac.uk, unlike an earlier Oxford notice from 2023. The closing deadline is 12 noon UK time on Friday 26 June 2026, and the job reference is 186584.
The salary is shown as £39,424 to £43,984 per annum on the jobs.ac.uk listing, with the role classed as Research Grade 7. Oxford says interviews will take place as soon as possible after the closing date. The department also notes its broader commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Why this matters
This recruitment matters because the post connects to one of the UK’s most closely watched electoral policy changes: mandatory photo ID at the ballot box. The project is designed to study whether voter ID alters participation, attitudes or behaviour, which makes the research relevant to scholars, policymakers and election observers.
For early-career political scientists with strong quantitative skills, the advert signals a route into a high-profile academic project at a leading university. It also shows continued academic interest in the real-world impact of election administration reforms.
Background of the development
Oxford previously advertised the same Voter ID Project post in 2023, showing that the research theme has been active for several years. The earlier notice described a fixed-term appointment tied to ESRC-funded research and a similar focus on voter ID and quantitative methods. The 2026 listing updates the vacancy with a new start date, salary band and closing deadline.
The wider policy context is the UK’s introduction of photo ID requirements for voters, a change that has generated ongoing academic and public debate. The Oxford team’s use of surveys and historical comparisons suggests the study is intended to provide evidence about both short-term and longer-term effects.
Prediction
For political science applicants, this development is likely to intensify competition for candidates with advanced survey and R skills, because the role is clearly targeted at a specialised research profile. For academics studying elections, the project may add further evidence to debates about whether voter ID rules affect turnout or voter attitudes in measurable ways. For policy audiences, the findings could be used to inform future discussions on election access and administration in the UK.
