Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Project

The School of Digital Media & Communication (SDMC), Mahindra University, Hyderabad is the Indian Partner Institution in a 5-country, 5-year research project (REACT — Reimagining Activism, Communication and Trajectories of Participation in the Global South), funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The project seeks to explore how young people (aged 18-30 years) in the Global South navigate uncertainty and push for social change. Prof. Thomas Tufte, the internationally known scholar of communication for social change, at Loughborough University, UK is the Principal Investigator of the project. Prof. Vinod Pavarala, Senior Professor & Advisor, SDMC at Mahindra University is the senior researcher leading the project in India.

We are looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Prof. Pavarala and the team on the India part of the study, starting June 2026.  The position, to be located at Mahindra University, is a 30-month position (2.5 years), ideally distributed as part-time over a 4-year period (1.6.2026 to 30.5.2030), subject to negotiation. The India fieldwork will primarily be in Hyderabad, involving interviews, focus-group discussions, creative workshops, urban manifestos, and scenario building.  By combining communication for social change, cultural studies, urban research, and critical development theory, the project will develop a new interdisciplinary framework—COMPAS (Communication, Participation and Social Change).  

Duties

• Implement the qualitative study in Hyderabad under the day-to-day leadership of Professor Pavarala;
• Plan, collect, and process all data;
• Manage a research assistant who will assist the postdoc;
• Author and co-author publications; and
• Engage with the global team of REACT researchers through regular meetings.

Detailed duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character or level of responsibility. The post-doc is expected to be based primarily at Mahindra University, with the potential for some international travel.  The post-doc reports to Senior Professor Vinod Pavarala, while working closely with the Principal Investigator Professor Thomas Tufte.

PAY SCALE: Our pay scale for all cadres has been structured competitively, and is commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

The applicant must have:

• A PhD awarded, preferably, in communication and media studies, although those with PhDs from allied social sciences, with demonstrable interest in the project, will also be considered.
• Evidence of scholarship in the form of any publications and conference papers.
• Experience in using qualitative research methods.
• Spoken language skills relevant for conducting fieldwork in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Any prior experience in project management, especially of large international research projects, will be an added advantage.

Interested and qualified candidates may send their applications to nirmala.c@mahindrauniversity.edu.inwith the subject line: Application for Postdoctoral Research Associate – SDMC.

Applications must be submitted no later than April 12, 2026. The application must include: (i) a cover letter; (ii) an updated CV; (iii) list of publications, if any. These (i-iii) could be merged into a single document (Word/PDF); Additionally, submit (iv) a copy of the PhD certificate and (v) a letter of reference from someone (e.g. thesis/project supervisor) who is knowledgeable about your work and experience.