Academic Lead

LSTM was founded in 1898 to tackle the economic cost to the empire caused by ‘tropical’ diseases. The institution’s existence in Liverpool was born out of the city’s instrumental role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its connections to the transatlantic slave economy.

The founding donation was given by Sir Alfred Lewis Jones (ALJ) an influential shipping magnate who owned the Elder Dempster Shipping Line and who made significant profits from the colonial exploitation of various African countries. Further information about LSTM’s story can be found here.

Our 2023 Black History Month Event ‘Exploring Colonial Legacies and Restorative Action’, (featuring leading experts including Professor Stephen Small, Dr Ama Biney, Laurence Westgaph and Dr Lioba Hirsch) gives an insight into the authentic, transparent and decolonial discussions we are committed to having about our history.

The collection is split between two sites at the University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives, and at LSTM itself.  With over 300 linear metres of artefacts, reports, books etc comprising over 400 boxes, 100 volumes and a significant book collection, it is a largely untapped resource. The collection currently housed at the University of Liverpool will be returning to LSTM after the completion of an Office for Students project due for completion in March 2025, including the addition of an extra archive store and consultation room.

LSTM’s collection includes administrative and financial records, biographical details about key members of the organisation, a comprehensive collection of newspaper clippings, annual reports documenting its colonial and financial history, business links with figures including Alfred Lewis Jones and King Leopold II. The archive also houses portraits, records from its research outposts, materials from expeditions, a vast array of teaching resources and documents related to various departments, and a significant collection of photographs.

Whose histories relate to colonialism and imperialism.

LSTM has put funding in place to cover the time of a Senior Historian leading the project, with scope to support the appointment of a full-time research associate. The funding allocated for the 2-year project is £200,000.

The Senior Historian will be expected to deliver a rigorous public record of our past and should have a proven track record of securing research funding, and supervising research projects to budget, on time.

LSTM particularly welcomes applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates who are descendants of, or affected by colonialism, imperialism or slavery.

Further information about the project can be found in our Senior Historian brochure attached here.

For an informal discussion about the project and our aims, or if you have any questions, please contact Equity Diversity and Inclusion Manager Samia Benbrih at History@lstmed.ac.uk.

Interested candidates are expected to submit the following via email to History@lstmed.ac.uk by Sunday 16^th March:

• CV
• Project Proposal document (including costings)

Timelines

• Submission deadline for proposals is Sunday 16^th
• Interviews are expected Monday 7^th, Tuesday 8^th and Wednesday 9^th April 2025. Interviews should preferably take place in person, but remote interviews can be supported. LSTM will cover reasonable travel expenses.
• Outcomes expected w/c Monday 21^st April 2025.

Please advise us of any reasonable adjustments in advance of interview.