PhD and Post DOC positions in NIAS
National Institute of Advanced Studies
Announcement of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Positions
NIAS-MPIMMG COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMME ON
URBAN ASPIRATIONS IN BANGALORE
The Urban Research and Policy Programme (URPP) of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) has initiated a new research programme entitled 'Urban Aspirations in Bangalore, South India'. This is an international collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity (MPIMMG, Goettingen, Germany) and the Urban Research and Policy Programme (URPP) of NIAS.
NIAS announces one postdoctoral and one doctoral position under this programme. The programme is linked to the MPIMMG research project entitled 'Comparative Study of Urban Aspirations in Mega-Cities' directed by Prof Peter van der Veer (Director, MPIMMG). See: http://www.mmg.mpg.de/research/all-projects/comparative-study-of-urban-aspirations-in-mega-cities/ The NIAS programme focusing on Bangalore will be directed by Dr Solomon Benjamin of the URPP together with Prof van der Veer.
The objective of the Urban Aspirations programme is to study comparatively the effects of globalising mega-cities, including Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangalore, and Seoul, on the formation of ethnic and religious aspirations. The concept of 'aspiration' is used to point at the ideational character of many of the material processes that affect city politics, new forms of territorial formation and transformation shaped by city planning but also squatting, transnational movements of economy and people. What appears to be significant in these mega-cities is not just the persistence of customary practices of religiosity, but also their collision with new forms organised along corporate lines as well as the emergence or resurgence of new religiosities. This process seems particularly influenced by the specific urban context of mega-cities and their peripheries, which constitute constantly transforming arenas for the risk taking of capital and religion in various instances of spatial and ideological contestation. These conflicts and contests are constantly in flux and difficult to study and thus require innovative and multiple research methods. Our emphasis is on processes of mediation that combine the neighbourhood with the larger city and with global networks. We also aim to use new models of collaboration between local and international researchers, in order to maximise the catalytic relations between inside and outside views.
The research projects will be housed at the NIAS URPP. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to independently conceptualise his or her project in consultation with the programme co-directors, in line with the broad objectives of the research programme. The doctoral level researcher will develop a research proposal during the first year of the programme and carry out the project under the direction of the co-directors. The doctoral student will register with the University of Utrecht for the PhD degree under the guidance of Prof Peter van der Veer and Dr Solomon Benjamin.
Eligibility for the doctoral fellowship:
The fellowship is open to those who have completed or are about to complete at least a Master's degree in sociology, social anthropology, geography, urban studies, or related social sciences, with at least 55% marks. Candidates with the M.Phil. degree or relevant research experience will be preferred. Selected candidates should have excellent writing skills in English, and a good knowledge of Kannada (spoken and written) or other local languages is highly desirable.
The fellowship will provide four years of support as well as funding for field research and other expenses related to the research project. The selected candidates will undergo a year of coursework and research training at NIAS prior to fieldwork. The fellowship is open only to full-time students willing to commit four years solely to research and writing. The selected doctoral student will design and carry out an independent research project within the broad framework of the research programme (see concept note available at NIAS and MPIMMG websites).
Eligibility for the postdoctoral fellowship:
Candidates should have finished the PhD degree in any social science, preferably urban studies, sociology, social anthropology, geography, or related disciplines, and with a specialisation in relevant areas including urban development, urban anthropology, sociology/ anthropology of religion, globalization, etc. The successful candidate will have strong analytical skills, a sound conceptual/ theoretical grounding in his/ her discipline or cross-disciplinary field, the ability to develop innovative research methods, a commitment to interdisciplinary work, and excellent writing skills. The selected researcher must design and carry out an independent project of two years in Bangalore within the broad framework of the research programme (outlined in the concept note available at NIAS and MPIMMG websites).
This is a full-time two-year position based at NIAS. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applications:
Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae including the names and addresses of three referees, a sample of published work (or unpublished, in the case of doctoral candidates), a statement of interest, and a brief outline of the proposed research (3-5 pages) based on the concept note (available on our website). Applications should be sent (preferably in soft copy by e-mail) to:
The deadline for receiving applications is April 30, 2011. Short-listed candidates will be invited to NIAS for an interview.
Applications and further enquiries should be sent to:
Head, Administration
National Institute of Advanced Studies
Indian Institute of Science Campus
Bangalore 560 012 India
For additional information, applicants may contact Dr Solomon Benjamin at [email protected].
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