Sidney Sussex College intends to welcome new College Research Associates (CRAs) from
1 September 2026. The new Associates will join a thriving group of University post-doctoral researchers and academic visitors to the College and have many opportunities to engage and build connections with a lively multi-disciplinary Fellowship. See:
https://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/people/other-academic-staff (Associates and Visitors)
https://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/people/fellows (Fellows)
Applicants for an Associateship must hold a contract of employment with the University of Cambridge in a post-doctoral research role for the duration of the Associateship. Preference will be given to Sidney alumni and to applicants who intend to be resident in Cambridge for most or all of their period of appointment. There are no conditions of age or subject attached to these positions, but applicants would normally be early in their research career and not yet in a tenured post.
CRAs will be selected by reference to their ability to contribute to the intellectual and educational life of the College. Typical contributions include combinations of the following:
• support of the College’s research activities, including giving seminars and providing advice and guidance to research students,
• undergraduate teaching through supervisions,
• support of the College’s outreach and widening participation work, and of the activities of the College’s Development and Alumni Relations Office, for example, by giving “public interest” lectures to groups of alumni or writing articles about their research for College publications.
College Research Associateships are tenable for a period of up to two years and may be renewed once for a further period of up to two years, tenure being linked and dependent on continuing post-doctoral affiliation with Cambridge University.
No stipend or honorarium is payable. The Associates have access to College facilities including the Library, Gym, and Senior Combination Room; they enjoy High Table dining privileges of one lunch and one dinner per week (when High Table is held, with the exclusion of certain evenings); they may have additional meals, and bring guests to dinner, for a charge.
Undergraduate supervisions and associated non-supervision activities (e.g., setting and marking of progress tests) carried out for the College will be separately remunerated.
Applications must identify a Sidney Sussex Fellow to agree to sponsor their application and to act as their informal mentor. Applications must be submitted by the Fellow sponsor by emailing mastersea@sid.cam.ac.uk with:
• the applicant’s CV,
• a personal statement of no more than 600 words, outlining the nature of their interest in becoming affiliated to the College and the main ways in which they see themselves contributing to Sidney; and
• the sponsor’s statement of support.
The deadline for nominations is midday Monday 8 June 2026.
Appointments will be made by the College Council at its Annual Meeting of 24 June 2026, and all applicants shall be informed of the outcome of their application as soon as practicable thereafter.
For further information please contact the Master, Professor Martin Burton at master@sid.cam.ac.uk.
Sidney Sussex College is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes diversity amongst its students, staff, Fellows and visitors, recognising the particular contributions to the achievements of the College’s mission that can be made by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experience.
The College Council reserves the right not to make an appointment.