Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity
The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity (Department for Socio-Cultural Diversity) wishes to appoint highly qualified candidates for a number of research positions. For all the positions, applicants should have a degree in anthropology, sociology, political science, geography, socio-linguistics or another relevant social science. Successful applicants’ research interests, experience and publications should be relevant to themes and topics within the Department for Socio-Cultural Diversity (see www.mmg.mpg.de). Currently the Department is especially looking to expand its work on the following:
Urban Diversity
• Organizations and institutions (including policy frameworks, implementation and interactions between local governance actors surrounding the concept of ‘diversity’); • Ethnographies of urban super-diversity (including new contexts, emergent dynamics and methodological challenges); • Urban theory and diversity (especially how diversification affects city development);
New Diversities in Africa
• Contemporary rural-urban and international migration, social interactions and urban development in various African cities; • ‘Old’ meets ‘new’ diversity (the layering of contemporary, migration-driven super-diversity on top of longstanding patterns of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity); • Migration and diversification in the growing megacity of Lagos.
Further, we are generally interested in enhancing our research agendas on political life and diversity and on social interactions in various social milieus and settings.
The Institute welcomes applications from researchers with either/both quantitative and qualitative research skills and experience. Very good spoken and written English is required. [The working language of the Institute is English, and publications in English-language academic journals and books are prioritized.]
Applications must be submitted electronically through the following portal:
https://s-lotus.gwdg.de/mpg/mpgs/mmg_postdoc_2014_01.nsf/application
Applications should include a cover letter, CV, a list of publications, publication (or PhD thesis) samples and the names and contact details of potential referees. Applicants may apply for more than one type of position. Deadline for all applications is 22 April 2014. All positions should begin on 1 September 2014, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The positions currently on offer are:
1. Up to four Staff Research Fellows
Initial contracts will be for a period of two years and are renewable for up to five years. Salary is based on the German collective bargaining agreement for civil servants (TVöD), level E 13. PhD required.
Staff researchers pursue their own projects and play a central role in developing and undertaking larger, team-driven projects within the Department and Institute, as well as with international collaborators. Interest and experience in team projects is advantageous.
2. Three Post-doctoral Research Fellows
Initial contracts will be for a period of two years and are renewable for up to up to three years. Salary will be based on the German collective bargaining agreement for civil servants (TVöD), level E 13. PhD required.
Post-docs undertake projects largely of their own design, but should be willing to collaborate and contribute to broader projects and themes within the Department and Institute, as well as with international collaborators.
3. Two Post-doctoral Write-up Fellows
These positions are for one year and are non-extendable. Based on the guidelines of the Max-Planck Society, we offer a monthly stipend of approximately €1,468 (for German nationals) or €2,100 (for foreign nationals). Stipends are not subject to income tax or obligatory social security contributions. Scholars whose PhDs have been submitted by June 1 2014 (and not before June 2011) are eligible to apply.
These fellowships are intended solely for writing-up the PhD thesis into publications (peer-reviewed journal articles and/or a book). Themes should relate to the substantive concerns of the department’s research programme. The write-up fellows are expected to take part in the academic life of the Department and Institute.
Please note: In addition to other publications, applicants for these one-year write-up fellowships should also send an electronic copy of their PhD-thesis or sample chapters. These will be treated confidentially.
4. One Doctoral Student
Initial contracts will be for a period of one to two years and are renewable for up to 4 years. Following the standard German model, doctoral salaries will be 50% of TVöD, level E 13.
PhD projects in any field should be relevant to the Department’s interests. Ideally, applicants should be in an advanced stage of their research and applicants should have fulfilled most university requirements for their doctoral programme.
The Max Planck Institute does not itself have a doctoral programme, nor does it award PhDs; scholarship holders are given a salary, research support and other academic funding (but not university fees). PhD students must be independently enrolled in universities and PhD programmes (anywhere in the world), and they are responsible for fulfilling all of the course and administrative requirements of their respective universities. PhD Student presence at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen is required. In their cover letter, applicants for a doctoral position should provide an indication of the PhD programme in which they are enrolled, and what degree requirements remain to be fulfilled.
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The Max Planck Society is mainly funded by German Federal and State Governments (see www.mpg.de). Max Planck Institutes provide outstanding facilities, academic resources and intellectual environments for the support of independent research. Max Planck Institutes are not tied to universities. There are no teaching obligations for staff, but teaching and other forms of co-operation with universities is possible.
The Max Planck Society wishes to increase the participation of women across the sciences. Applications from women are therefore particularly welcome. Following its commitment to equal opportunities employment policy, the Max Planck Society especially encourages applications from persons with disability.
For further details about the institute and its research consult the website (www.mmg.mpg.de). If you have specific, individual questions, you may contact Prof. Karen Schönwälder at schoenwaelder@mmg.mpg.de.