Utrecht University invites applications for a fully-funded PhD position under the ERC-funded project RESPIRE: Planetary Breathing in Asphyxiating Times. This interdisciplinary research addresses socio-environmental inequalities and multispecies relations through the lens of planetary breathing.
To be eligible, applicants must hold a master’s degree in relevant disciplines such as Gender Studies or Environmental Humanities, with demonstrated interest in socio-political-environmental justice.
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( votes)Utrecht University is one of the leading universities in Europe, known for its high-quality research and innovative teaching. With a focus on interdisciplinary education, the university excels in fields such as life sciences, sustainability, and social sciences. Utrecht University fosters a collaborative environment, attracting students and researchers from around the world.
Application Deadline: 19 January 2025
Brief Description
- University or Organization: Utrecht University
- Department: Department of Media and Culture Studies
- Course Level: PhD
- Award: Full-time PhD position (1 FTE) with a gross monthly salary ranging from €2,901 to €3,707
- Access Mode: Online application
- Number of Awards: 1
- Nationality: Domestic and International
- The award can be taken in the: Netherlands
Eligibility
- Eligible Countries: Open to candidates from all countries
- Acceptable Course or Subjects: The scholarship is available for applicants with a background in Humanities or Social Sciences, including fields such as Gender Studies, Critical Theory, Cultural Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Decolonial Studies, Critical Race Studies, Posthumanities, Environmental Humanities, and related disciplines.
- Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (Humanities or Social Sciences).
- Research experience or activism focused on social, environmental, or geopolitical inequalities from a critical feminist, queer, trans, postcolonial, or decolonial perspective.
- A strong interest in interdisciplinary research, particularly the study of deforestation, dead zones, and peatlands from both social and natural sciences perspectives.
- Excellent command of the English language and strong academic writing skills.
- Previous knowledge of Critical Respiratory Studies and critical research methods in the humanities is preferred, but not required.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit the following documents through the application portal:
- CV
- A writing sample in English (e.g., a chapter of a thesis or a published article)
- Contact information for two references
- Motivation letter (up to 1500 words), addressing the following questions:
- What motivates you to pursue PhD research?
- What intervention would you like to make in the current socio-political-environmental conjuncture?
- How do you understand breathing and suffocation as research topics?
- What theories or activist/artistic practices have influenced your work and how do they relate to planetary respiration and asphyxiation?
- What specific problems would you like to address in your PhD project?
- How do you envision your research practice during your PhD (methods, theory-society relations)?
- How do you work individually and within a team?
Benefits
- Full funding for fieldwork, travel, and accommodation related to the research project.
- Full-time salary with benefits, including holiday pay, pension scheme, and parental leave.
- A dynamic, interdisciplinary working environment with opportunities for professional development.
- Collaboration with leading scholars in the field, including co-authoring articles and participating in international conferences and seminars.
- Access to Utrecht University’s additional employee benefits, including development programs, leave schemes, and discounts on IT products.