[ecrea] CfA: Two funded PhD positions at Free University Berlin

CfA: Two generously funded PhD positions at Free University Berlin

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is only an unofficial, informal, translated call 
for applications. The legally binding, official German job announcement 
is available at: 
http://www.fu-berlin.de/service/stellen/st_2014/st_20141117.html

The Emmy Noether research group on Mediating (Semi-)Authoritarianism – 
The Power of the Internet in the Post-Soviet World invites applications 
for two fully funded PhD positions (of up to four years), starting in 
early or mid-2015.  The research group will be based at the Institute 
for Media and Communications Studies at the Free University Berlin. It 
is being funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) from October 
2014 to September 2019.

The five-year project investigates the interrelations of 
internet-mediated communication and politics in the post-Soviet region, 
with a strong comparative focus on three countries: Russia, Ukraine, and 
Belarus. It draws primarily on qualitative methods of communication 
research, but also employs quantitative approaches. Comparisons are 
structured around a series of key theoretical concepts, including the 
decoding of news items, counterpublics, critical news literacy, and 
political representation. Additional information about the project can 
be found at www.mediating-authoritarianism.net.
Job Description / Duties and Responsibilities

·         Pursuing independent research: Applicants will be expected to 
develop, design, and accomplish independent research that will qualify 
them for the award of a PhD degree. The topic of the candidate’s 
independent doctoral research should be closely related to the central 
topic of the research group. Thus, ideally, their independent research 
will strongly benefit from synergies with research carried out in the 
framework of the research group.

·         Contributing to the success of the research group: PhD 
students will play an important role as members of the Emmy Noether 
group. They will make strong, creative, and independent contributions to 
the project by helping to refine the overall research design, as well as 
by collecting, analysing, and interpreting data. They will contribute as 
(co-)authors to publications of the research group. One of the two PhD 
positions announced here will focus on data collection and analysis with 
regard to Belarus, the other with regard to Ukraine.

·         Administration, outreach & teaching: The project group will 
organize a small number of public events (approximately one event per 
year), seek to host visiting scholars from across the globe, and 
maintain a website that includes a blog. It will also be involved in 
teaching at the Institute of Media and Communications Studies at Free 
University Berlin (one course in each semester). Although routine tasks 
in these areas will be carried out by a student assistant, PhD 
candidates will be expected to take on management responsibilities and 
other leading roles in this work.
Person Specification / Selection Criteria

·         A Masters degree or equivalent in Media and Communications or 
a related discipline such as Sociology, Political Science, or Psychology 
(essential). Highly- motivated candidates with or without prior work 
experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

·         Experience in qualitative and/or quantitative social science 
research methods.

·         Evidence of in-depth knowledge and understanding of the 
candidate’s own field of study, which will ideally be related to 
political communication (essential).

·         Fluency in English (essential), either Ukrainian or Belarusian 
(essential), and Russian (desirable). Willingness to acquire practical 
knowledge of German in the course of the project (essential).

·         Evidence of ability and willingness to work as part of a team 
(essential).

·         Evidence of strong self-management skills, as required to 
successfully complete a four-year PhD project (essential).

·         Evidence of flexibility, autonomy, and creativity (essential).

·         Evidence of strong communication skills (desirable).

·         Evidence of strong analytical and critical skills and clear 
academic writing (desirable).


Salary and Working Conditions

·         The two PhD positions in the Emmy Noether research group come 
with an internationally highly competitive salary, which will be 
stipulated in accordance with the German collective agreement for the 
public sector (TV-L E 13 at a 0.65 full time equivalent). Depending on 
the candidate’s work experience, the initial annual salary will thus be 
at least 26,814 Euros (increase pending). From this gross salary, 
contributions to the German pension scheme, health assurance, and other 
social insurances will be automatically deducted. Depending on the 
family situation, the PhD candidate’s initial net salary will thus 
amount to at least 1,600 Euros a month (approximately 2,150 USD).

·         The Emmy Noether group will offer PhD candidates a vibrant and 
international academic environment with flat hierarchies. In the course 
of the project, they will receive hands-on training in pursuing 
internationally competitive communication research. At the same time, 
they will be intensely supervised and supported by the leader of the 
research group, members of academic staff at the Free University Berlin, 
and international scholars affiliated with the project in pursuing their 
independent PhD research. PhD candidates will be encouraged to pursue 
their own ideas, make strong individual contributions to the success of 
the research project, and develop an emerging track record of 
independent academic publications that will qualify them to pursue a 
subsequent academic career.

·         The two PhD positions will have access to generous subsidies 
for conference travel, fieldwork, and external academic training.
How to Apply

Additional information about the project can be found at 
www.mediating-authoritarianism.net. To apply, we recommend providing the 
following documents:

·         CV.

·         Letter of motivation (maximum two pages) stating why you would 
like to pursue a PhD within the research group, potential topic of your 
PhD, type of research you could imagine pursuing, and how you think you 
could contribute to the success of the project. Please also provide 
evidence with regard to selection criteria listed above.

·         One to three samples of academic writing (course work, your BA 
or MA thesis, etc.)

·         Relevant school certificates and university diplomas 
(certificate of qualification for university matriculation, BA and MA 
diplomas, or equivalents).

·         Contact details and phone numbers of two or three referees (at 
least one academic).

Please send your applications to the group leader Dr Florian Toepfl at 
(f.toepfl /at/ fu-berlin.de). The application deadline is 15.12.2014. Ideally, 
the two PhD candidates will be employed in early or mid-2015. We very 
much look forward to receiving your applications!


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