Applications for a three-year PhD position (0.5 FTE).

Project: ‘Times in Crisis, Times of Crisis: The Temporalities of Europe in Polycrisis’ (TiCToC), Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

PhD, funded for 3 years, 0.5 FTE

The Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, invites applications for a three-year PhD position (0.5 FTE). Along with TiCToC team members, the PhD candidate will conduct their research at the Department of Memory Studies, Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS).

RESEARCH PROJECT

‘Times in Crisis, Times of Crisis: The Temporalities of Europe in Polycrisis’ (TiCToC) is a project led in the Czech Republic by Dr. Jana Nosková as part of a joint initiative of the HERA network and the CHANSE programme. Within the project, a four-member team from the Department of Memory Studies will conduct ethnological/historical/social anthropological research in the Czech Republic. This research project aims to investigate the experience of time in the context of polycrisis Europe and the cultural dynamics expressed in crisis contexts.

POSITION

It is a half-time position for up to three years.

Starting date: March 1^st, 2025

Joining an ambitious research project on the temporal registers of crisis, and the cultural dynamics expressed in crisis contexts. The central aim of the project is to shed light on what we term ‘times of crisis’. The research questions we ask: What does it means to live in times of crisis? How does crisis change over time? How is crisis perceived in hindsight? Critically, what distinguishes ‘crisis time’ from ‘normal time’? In the Czech Republic the project focuses on times of crisis and the fallout of the Ukraine conflict in Eastern Europe in comparison to conflict crises past and future. Primary focus will be on the everyday impact of war and the anticipation of conflict including how current events affect historical consciousness of past crises, mundane practices in the present, and the capacity for future-building in a region of great uncertainty. Secondary considerations will be the knock-on consequences of war and conflict on other nodes of crisis, including economics, climate, extremist politics, and migration.

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. The successful candidate must already be a doctoral student or must start doctoral studies by 1 September 2025 at the latest under the supervision of a member of the research team from the Institute of Ethnology CAS.

ELIGIBILITY  

• A master’s degree in European ethnology, social and cultural anthropology or related disciplines
• Keen interest in memory studies, migration studies
• Skills in qualitative methods, experience with ethnographic fieldwork
• Very good command of English, both written and spoken
• Knowledge of fieldwork-related languages (Czech or Slovak – essential; Ukrainian – desirable)
• 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)
• Ability to publish texts in scientific journals
• Readiness to do fieldwork in the Czech Republic (or in Slovakia)

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.
• A gross salary of EUR 812 per month (0.5 FTE), for three years
• Funding for fieldwork and conference travel
• 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)
• Working place in Prague or Brno  

APPLICATION

To apply, candidates are required to submit the following as a single PDF document comprising:

• Motivation letter (max. one page).
• CV (max. two pages).
• Research project proposal (including literature review, objectives and research questions, methodology, and timeline – max. three pages)
• A sample of a written work, previously published or unpublished (in English – desirable)
• Contact information of two academic references

In the second stage, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed online. 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 under the subject “TiCToC PhD position” no later than January 10^th, 2025, 16:00 Central European Time.

We strongly recommend that prospective applicants contact Dr Nosková at noskova@eu.cas.cz for further information regarding the TiCToC project prior to submitting the application.

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