Doctoral fellow

Job description

Ghent University seeks to appoint a doctoral fellow whose research focuses on body politics in Muslim majority societies in the contemporary Middle East, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Lisa Maria Franke.

We invite proposals for PhD research projects on any aspect of body politics, society and culture in the modern/contemporary Middle East, including, but not limited to the following areas: emotions, fashion, sexuality and gendered body experiences in Muslim majority societies; notions of sociability; social transformations, identity, beauty, processes of individualisation, embodied practices, (non-)religiosities

Within the context of the doctoral fellowship, the successful candidate will:

• Write a PhD dissertation for a degree in Middle East Studies
• Submit at least 2 articles for publication with a peer-reviewed journal
• Disseminate their research through participation in international workshops and conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to the research environment in Arabic and Islamic studies at Ghent University through participation in reading groups, workshops, and other scholarly events
  
  

As a doctoral fellow, the successful candidate will join the research team working under the supervision of Prof. Lisa Franke.

Job profile

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a thesis-based master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Arabic Studies, Islamic Studies, Middle East Studies, Near Eastern Languages & Cultures, Social and Cultural Anthropology, Religious Studies, Gender Studies);
• You have the ability to develop an original research project and to work independently
• You have proficiency in Arabic and Egyptian Arabic
• You have completed an exceptional MA dissertation on any aspect of society and culture in the modern/contemporary Middle East;
• You have an excellent command of written and spoken English;
• You are a dynamic and enthusiastic team player
• You have (long term) field research experience in at least one country of the Middle East
• You have experiences with conceptualising and conducting anthropological/qualitative field research, experience in digitial ethnography is an asset
• You have the willingness to travel
  
  

We particularly welcome applications from candidates in the Global South.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a full-time position for four years as doctoral fellow, subject to positive evaluation after one year.
• Your contract will start on 1/09/2024 at the earliest
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by the Department of Personnel and Organization based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• You will be allocated office space and a laptop, and receive funding for archival research and fieldwork, and for attending workshops and conferences.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).

How to apply

To apply, submit the following materials in a single pdf file to Prof. Lisa Maria Franke (lisa.franke@ugent.be):

• a Cover letter outlining your experience and interest in undertaking doctoral studies at Ghent
• your CV and an overview of your study results
• a transcript of your studies at undergraduate and MA level
• a research proposal (max. 2000 words) that outlines the dissertation project you will undertake and includes 1) project title, 2) a rationale and positioning of the project in relation to existing scholarship, 3) a statement of the research objectives of the project, and 4) research methodology and work plan
• names, positions, and email address of two referees (do not include reference letters.)