Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology (Open until 31 January 2011)

Two doctoral research positions in the Division of Anthropology of Law and Conflict Studies
Project Description These doctoral positions are granted in the context of the interdisciplinary programme of the new 'Max Planck Research School on Retaliation, Mediation, Punishment (IMPRS-REMEP)'. The research program aims to attract researchers educated in social anthropology (in particular, legal anthropology and conflict studies). The doctoral students will carry out their studies mainly in Halle/Saale. They will participate in the training programme offered by the IMPRS-REMEP and can make use of the facilities and infrastructure of the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law. Working language of the training programme and the dissertation is English. According to local university regulations, German language skills may be required in exceptional cases. The scientific supervision of the doctoral students will be carried out by the Max Planck Institute and the University of Freiburg. Cross-disciplinary dissertation projects may be co-supervised by a member of the academic staff from a partner institute. Job description Dissertation Topics The research agenda has its focus on the fundamental question common to the disciplines of social sciences and humanities regarding how peace and social order are negotiated, constructed, maintained and re-gained. In particular, in the context of conflict and post-conflict societies, traditional approaches to reconciliation and mediation are being adopted, amending, and - partially - replacing, well-established systems of punishment mainly based on concepts of retaliation. Research at the Max Planck Institute in Halle/Saale should fall within the fields of legal anthropology and conflict studies in the broadest sense of these terms. The focus of analysis should be conflict and conflict settlement procedures (retaliation, mediation, punishment) in plural legal contexts and should also include strategies for inclusion and exclusion in conflict situations. Of special interest are configurations of various juridical repertoires, such as local or customary law, state law, religious law, or transnational norms for conflict management, including actors’ abilities to manoeuvre within or among these repertoires (e.g. forum shopping). Of equal importance are issues pertaining to the social construction of conflict parties and their identity patterns. This research programme encompasses dispute management within or between various groups or institutions at various levels of social organisation: in semi-autonomous social fields such as kinship groups and local groups; within or between ethnic or religious communities, both within or across national borders; between states; or in transnational settings. Potential research topics range from conflict resolution in acephalous societies to conflict management procedures in (post) conflict societies (retaliation, punishment, compensation, reconciliation), for example, in the form of transitional or restorative justice or reconciliation processes. The interaction of global, local and translocal processes may thus acquire special analytical importance. Applicants are expected to develop their research questions independently, and to specify those in their proposal. Proposals with a comparative perspective and/or an inter-disciplinary approach will be considered with priority. It is expected that anthropological projects include a field research of approximately one year. Requirements Application requirements 1. Completion of a university degree in social anthropology at a German university or completion at an equivalent university abroad. 2. Alternatively to (1), completion of regular university studies in a social sciences’ discipline as major subject, a second major subject, or two additional minor subjects, with an overall duration of at least 4 years at a German university, or completion of an equivalent programme at an equivalent university abroad. Master degree or equivalent degree from abroad. In exceptional cases with a background in sociology of law and interest in social anthropology empirical research, completion of a law degree at a German university or completion at an equivalent university abroad. First or Second German State Law Exam with a minimum overall grade of "vollbefriedigend" (according to the examination regulations "JAPrO" of the State of Baden-Württemberg), or an equivalent degree with an equiva¬lent grade ("with distinction") from abroad. 3. Submission of a substantive proposal for a dissertation topic linked to the research agenda of the IMPRS-REMEP. 4. Solid proficiency in the English language. In addition, students should have at least some basic knowledge of German language and demonstrate willingness to improve it. The IMPRS-REMEP seeks to reach a composition of at least 50 percent foreign doctoral students. Thus, foreign candidates with a foreign degree are explicitly encouraged to apply. Recognition of equivalence of foreign degrees is to be determined by the doctoral committee of the Faculty of Philosophy I of the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, in accordance with the criteria laid out by the Central Office for Foreign Education at the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs ("Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen im Sekretariat der Ständigen Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder"). Payment Financial support is granted in accordance with the guidelines of the Max Planck Society in the form of a doctoral contract or bursary. The financial support regarding the doctoral contract corresponds with public service organizations (up to 50 per cent of the payment group 13 degree 1 of the General Framework Agreement on Public Services, "Tarifvertrag Öffentlicher Dienst", TVöD). Financial support will be granted for a period of two years, with a possibility of two subsequent extensions, each for a duration of six months. Application Application documents must be submitted electronically no later than by January 31st 2011 to the following email address: wagenbrett@eth.mpg.de (maximum 5 MB per E-Mail). Please refrain from sending postal applications. Applicants will be invited to telephone or personal interviews in Halle/Saale in mid February. The selection procedure should be completed by the end of February 2011. The applicants will be informed of the selection results in writing. During the selection procedure we ask applicants to refrain from contacting the Institute with regards to the results of the procedure. An absolute right to financial support does not exist. Application documents 1. Cover sheet addressed to the 'International Max Planck Research School on Retaliation, Mediation, Punishment' at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg i.Br. 2. European style curriculum vitae (http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/) in German or English. It should include information on all previous research activities. 3. Copy of Secondary Education certificate with a list of subject areas. The documents must be officially translated into German (preferably) or English and a copy of the original supplied. 4. Copy of all university certificates with a list of all grades, including the overall grade, the average grade and the university certificate of graduation. The documents must be officially translated into German (preferably) or English and a copy of the original supplied. 5. Substantive/meaningful proposal for a research topic (5 pages), preferably in English, structured into a) relevance of the proposed topic in the context of the overall research agenda of the IMPRS-REMEP, b) state of preparation, c) aim of the project, d) probable links to other disciplines, e) methodology, f) proposed timeline, g) intended time of completion of the dissertation. It is intended that doctoral students, when participating in the research programme in a regular manner, will be able to complete the programme within a three years period (two plus twice a half a year). 6. Two letters of recommendation from two senior scientists (to be written in English or German). These letters should include information as to previous research experience, and vouch for the ability of the applicant to undertake doctoral studies at the Research School. 7. Applicants who do not speak English as their native language and who are unable of demonstrating good proficiency in English language in any other way must prove their skills through language examination certificates. In particular, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with at least 6.0 bands or TOEFEL (at least 560 points, computer: 220 points) are recognized. 8. Applicants who do not speak German as their native language should be capable to demonstrate basic knowledge of German, e.g., through a certificate German language ("Zertifikat Deutsch", ZD). Proficiency in German language is not a formal precondition for application. However, subject to university regulations, German may be mandatory for the oral doctoral exam or defense, or for parts of it, in individual cases. If necessary, access to external language courses can be arranged. Presentation of officially authenticated copies of the original certificates etc., with regards to Nos. 3 and 4 above, is only necessary once a decision has been made to admission.  The Max Planck Society and the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg endeavour, wherever possible, to employ disabled persons and applications from such persons are expressly called for. The Max Planck Society and the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg also desire to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Deadline for applications: January 31th, 2011. Contact Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Bertram Turner Advokatenweg 36 06114 Halle (Saale) E-mail: turner@eth.mpg.de Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Nadine Wagenbrett (for applications) Advokatenweg 36 06114 Halle (Saale) E-mail: wagenbrett@eth.mpg.de Further information Website of the Institute www.eth.mpg.de

Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies (1 February 2011)

The Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies is a joint endeavour of the Freie Universität Berlin, the Hertie School of Governance, and the Social Science Research Center Berlin. It offers a rigorous and intense English-language PhD programme for exceptionally-talented graduate students in the field of transnational and international relations, defined as an interdisciplinary field of reasearch encompassing Political Science, History, Economics, Law and adjacent disciplines.


Overview:


Programme: 3 year full-time PhD programme
Language of instruction: English
Starting date for Applications: 1 December 2010
Deadline for Applications: 1 February 2011
Decision taken by the Committee: early April 2011
Starting date of Programme: 1 September 2011
Scholarships: 8 Doctoral Scholarships - two of these scholarships are reserved for projects addressing the field of research of the Research College 'The Transformative Power of Europe'.

Application Requirements
Admission to the programme is open to graduates of masters' programmes in the social sciences and adjacent fields.

The application requirements for the programme are:

• An exceptionally strong completed university degree qualifying for PhD studies in political science, international relations, sociology, economics, law or related disciplines
• Proof of C1-level English language skills or the equivalent
• An up-to-date CV
• A short letter of motivation (600 words maximum)
• A research proposal (5000 words maximum) with timetable of your project
• Two letters of reference from professors at universities or research institutions

All documents need to be submitted in English. Calls for applications always run from December till the end of January each year.

 

Click here for more information.

PhD scholarships and 1 postdoctoral scholarship in Germany (open until March 1, 2011)

Giessen University's International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC), funded by the German federal government’s Excellence Initiative, offers a three-year structured PhD-programme in the study of culture. With its excellent research environment, a doctoral programme which is tailored to the needs of PhD students and the intensive personal support it provides, the Graduate Centre offers postgraduate students optimum conditions for their PhD-projects and a custom-made preparation for the time thereafter, both with regard to academic and non-academic careers.

From 01st October 2011, the GCSC offers

Up to 9 PhD scholarships and 1 postdoctoral scholarship.

PhD scholarships include a monthly stipend of approximately €1.100 and are offered for one year with the possibility of two extensions, each of a year. The postdoctoral scholarship, with a monthly stipend of about €1.500, is limited to two years. All scholarships start on 01st October, 2011. Acceptance of a scholarship requires participation in the study programme and the wide-ranging events offered by the GCSC, as well as active involvement in at least one GCSC graduate research group. PhD scholarship holders must register as PhD students at Justus Liebig University. There are no tuition fees for doctoral students at JLU, except for an enrolment fee of approximately €200 per semester. All scholarship holders are expected to take up residency in or near Giessen.

Eligibility

We invite applications contributing to the study of culture in various historical contexts as well as those analyzing contemporary phenomena The GCSC encourages applications from graduate students who have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class honours M.A.-degree (or equivalent) in one of the GCSC’s academic subjects or in the arts/humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences. Candidates applying for a post-doctoral scholarship should hold a PhD in the arts/humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences, have an excellent academic record, and pursue a research project relevant to the GCSC’s research areas. Fluency in either English or German is required.

Application Procedure and Deadline

The main selection criteria are the candidates’ academic qualification, the academic quality of the research proposal and the suitability of the project for the GCSC’s research programme. Short-listed candidates will be invited to a 30-minute interview; telephone interviews can be arranged for candidates from overseas.

The application deadline is March 1st, 2011 (date of receipt). All applications (including an application form and further documents as stated on the GCSC-website) have to be submitted online. Please find all information on the two-stage application procedure on our website.

If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact us at gcsc-application@uni-giessen.de. On 24th January 2011, the GCSC will host an Information Day at the Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC), Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Alter Steinbacher Weg 38, 35394 Giessen. The Information Day gives potential applicants the opportunity to meet the staff and students involved in the doctoral programme. You will also have the chance to obtain more information on the research areas and academic objectives of the GCSC, the wide range of interdisciplinary courses, colloquia, and conferences, the research support on offer, our international networks and partner institutions, as well as on publishing and funding opportunities available to GCSC-members.

Please continue with our notes on the two-stage application procedure.