Part-time, funded, five-month PhD position in the project: ‘Memory and Populism from Below’ 

Project: ‘Memory and Populism from Below’ (MEMPOP), Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

A FUNDED, PART-TIME, FIVE-MONTH PHD POSITION

The Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic, invites applications for a part-time, funded, five-month PhD position. Along with MEMPOP ERC team members, the PhD candidate will conduct their research at the Department of Mobility and Migration, Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS). 

RESEARCH PROJECT

‘Memory and Populism from Below’ (MEMPOP) is a project led by Dr. Johana Wyss and funded by the European Research Council.  The project team from the Department of Mobility and Migration conducts ethnographic research in various European transnational borderland regions. These borderland regions are characterised by harsh historical upheavals, frequent historical shifts of national borders and populations, as well as rising populist sentiments. This research project aims to investigate the relationship between collective memory and the increasing popularity of populist political parties.

POSITION

• This is a five-month PhD position, starting on October 1st, 2024, and ending on February 28th, 2025
• Start date: October 1st, 2024, or as agreed.
• The doctoral student is expected to have expertise in ethnographic research methods, populism studies, and memory studies.

Joining an ambitious research project on memory and populism in European transnational borderland regions, the PhD student will participate in the MEMPOP team's activities while furthering their doctoral research project.  In liaison with the PI, we expect the successful candidate to proactively design and work on their own research project as well as to work within the larger research team.

ELIGIBILITY  

• A master’s degree in social and cultural anthropology or related disciplines.
• Keen interest in memory studies, borderland studies, and populism and political polarisation.
• Skills in qualitative methods are essential; experience with ethnographic fieldwork is desirable.
• Very good command of English, both written and spoken (a score of approximately 7 in IELTS or 94-101 in TOEFL).

• Ability to work independently and as a member of an international team.
• Ability to present at international conferences and to contribute to communications aimed at the general public (blogposts, website, social media).
• Readiness to live and work in Prague, Czech Republic

OFFERING

• A cutting-edge research project, a vibrant and supportive research team, and the exciting broader research environment of the Institute of Ethnology and the Czech Academy of Sciences.

• Fees for open access publications covered.
• Various training seminars and workshops to further professional development.
• An open, family-friendly work environment, and holiday arrangements with 25 days of leave (based on a full-time contract). 
• The salary will comply with the rules of the ERC project and the wage regulations of the Institute of Ethnology, CAS

APPLICATION

To apply, candidates are required to submit the following documents as a single PDF file:

• Cover letter (max. one page).
• CV (max. two pages).
• Contact information of two academic references.

In the second stage, shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Additional documents might be requested as per the guidelines of the Institute.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE POST

Applications should be emailed to ticha@eu.cas.cz with the subject line “MEMPOP 5-month PhD position” no later than September 18^th, 2024, 12:00 Central European Time.

We strongly recommend that prospective applicants contact Dr Wyss at wyss@eu.cas.cz for further information regarding the MEMPOP ERC project prior to submitting the application.

If no suitable candidates are found, the vacancy will be reopened.