Cambridge Interfaith Programme (CIP) invites applications from outstanding early-career researchers to develop an independent research project contributing to CIP’s expertise on peace, conflict and religion.
Based in the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge Interfaith Programme is a research centre for interreligious and interdisciplinary inquiry and for dialogue between communities of faith and secular society.
From 2026-2031, CIP’s strategic focus examines how people and communities create, experience, contest and sustain peace in contexts of conflict and political violence. We are particularly interested in the cultural, religious, ethical and lived dimensions of peace and conflict: how people interpret violence, develop moral and political responses to it, mobilise religious and cultural resources, and imagine or enact alternative forms of social and political life.
We invite excellent researchers to apply for an internal selection process; successful candidates will then be supported in putting forward their application for an Early Career Fellowship to the Leverhulme Trust. The Faculty of Divinity will provide match-funding to a successful candidate, contingent on their being selected by the Leverhulme Trust.
The successful fellow will work closely with the Academic Director of CIP, who will serve as their mentor throughout the fellowship. The fellow will also be expected to contribute to CIP’s research culture through participation in seminars, workshops and other intellectual activities.
We are particularly interested in projects that:
- use ethnographic, anthropological, or closely related interpretive approaches to examine contemporary societies;
- investigate how religious and cultural resources shape experiences and understandings of conflict, violence, peace, justice, or resistance;
- examine how individuals and communities negotiate, contest or rework boundaries between religion, politics and society;
- explore practices of peacebuilding, nonviolent resistance, reconciliation, repair, solidarity or social transformation; and/or
- investigate how memories, narratives and representations of violence shape contemporary understandings of conflict and possibilities for peace.
- Projects may address different geographical, cultural and religious settings. We welcome projects that focus on the Middle East and its related geographies.
- Projects should focus primarily on events from the 1950s onwards.
Application requirements
Applicants should submit:
Academic CV, maximum two sides of A4.
List of major publications, maximum one side of A4, under the headings (i) In preparation, (ii) Submitted and (iii) Published.
Statement of current and previous research, maximum 250 words.
Research proposal, maximum two sides of A4, outlining:
the research question and aims;
methodology and proposed research activities;
the project’s contribution to existing scholarship;
anticipated outputs and a realistic plan for the three-year fellowship.
potential contribution to and benefit from the intellectual environment of CIP.
Two references, one of which should normally be from outside Cambridge. Referees should send their references directly to Dr Peter Harland at the address stated below.
The application deadline is 30 November 2026.
Applications should be sent by email to the Faculty Manager, Dr Peter Harland: pjh42@cam.ac.uk.
Queries may be sent to team@interfaith.cam.ac.uk. Kindly note that due to the volume of interest, we will not be responding to individual queries regarding eligibility. Where we identify questions that are not answered below or on the linked web pages, we will add further information on this page. Questions about the substance of applications may be referred to Professor Esra Özyürek.
Eligibility
Because this opportunity is linked with the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme, prospective applicants should check that they meet the Leverhulme eligibility criteria prior to applying. For the current cycle, this requires that applicants should have submitted their thesis for viva voce examination no earlier than 18 February 2023. Any applicant who has yet to submit their PhD thesis must do so before 18 February 2027.
See further details on the Leverhulme website (linked below).
For the avoidance of doubt, this funding opportunity is not suitable to those who have not yet completed a PhD (excepting where you will submit before February 2027). Those interested in PhD opportunities should visit the Faculty of Divinity website for information.
Further information
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme (leverhulme.ac.uk)
Assisting early career researchers to complete substantive new research over three years.
The Faculty of Divinity (divinity.cam.ac.uk)
Visit the Faculty of Divinity website for information about study opportunities.
https://www.interfaith.cam.ac.uk/news/funding-opportunity-peace-conflict-and-religion