PhD Student

Job description

This project aims to explore the complex and multifaceted relationship between academic freedom, knowledge production and the political, social and cultural issues surrounding Palestine. More specifically, this project focuses on the suppression of research on Palestine (scholasticide suppression of academic freedom, dismissals,…) and aims to understand the legal and institutional constraints that academic staff and students face within the European and/or Palestinian context. Within this project, you will work on a PhD for 90% of your time. The remaining 10% you will support the educational assignments of the department.

Job profile

Diploma/Knowledge:

• You hold a Master's degree in Political and/or Social Sciences. The diploma requirement must be met on the date of appointment
• You have a good historical and political knowledge of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
• You have fieldwork experience in the region of North Africa and/or the Middle East.
• You have distinguished yourself as a student.
• You have an excellent knowledge of the English language (oral and written). Knowledge of Dutch is not a requirement but is a plus. Knowledge of Arabic is highly recommended.

Skills and Attitudes:

• You work independently within a team and under the supervision of two research supervisors.
• You have a hands-on mentality.
• You can solve problems independently.
• You dare to show creativity in solving problems and generating new ideas. o You have experience in organizing academic events (lectures, symposia, conferences, etc.)

What we can offer you

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Your contract will start on 01/06/2025 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 Team Personnel Administration 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
• 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

How to apply

Please provide the following documents:

• your CV,
• a copy of your master's degree (if already in your possession),
• a letter of motivation, and,
• a research proposal (state-of-the-art, research question, theory and methodology, maximum 2500 words) linked to the project but we welcome original approaches.

Please provide these documents in 1 PDF file named (NAME-ACAFPAL.pdf) to Sami.Zemni@ugent.be AND Koen.Vanrumste@ugent.be before 25 April (11am). We do not accept late applications.

UGent has an equal opportunities and diversity policy and therefore encourages everyone to apply. Candidates will be informed whether or not they have been selected in the week of 28 April. The online interviews of the selected candidates will take place on 12 and/or 13 May.

For more information regarding this vacancy, please contact Prof. Dr. Sami Zemni Sami.Zemni@UGent.be, +32 09/264 69 54).