The Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen is inviting applications for two postdocs in the research project "Iran Beyond Iran: Diasporic Politics, Transnational Entanglement and Digital Publics", funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF), starting on 1 May 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
These are fixed-term position for 2 years.
Job content
The project focuses on Iranian diaspora politics in Western Europe by investigating the specific entanglements of the diaspora with homeland, host country and geopolitics. Mapping diasporic entrepreneurs as they relate to each other, to Persian-language digital publics and to the influence of transnational authoritarianism, the project will generate crucial new knowledge of a conflict that increasingly materializes on European soil and therefore is of interest to the broader public, policymakers and societal stakeholders. The project also aspires to contribute an important transnational dimension to Iranian Studies, which – as an Area Study – has traditionally focused mainly on domestic politics. The project thus raises questions such as: How is Iranian politics transnationalized through diasporic entrepreneurs’ activities? And what can the case of Iranian diasporic politics tell us generally about conflict over authoritarian states in a globalized, digitized and media-saturated world?
Qualification requirements
Appointment as a postdoc presumes research qualifications on at least PhD level.
For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Ministry of Education and Research’s Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
The postdoctoral researchers will carry out independent research that fit the overall framework and addresses the key research questions of the project outlined above. We invite candidates with a PhD degree in Middle Eastern Studies or Iranian Studies, in sociology, anthropology, or with related social science background with experience in conducting online and/or traditional fieldwork. Experiences with digital methods will be an advantage, and excellent skills in writing academic English is required. The candidate must have a command of Persian language.
The candidate should submit a brief outline of a project idea that will suit the overall framework of the project. Possible ideas for topics could include:
- The impact of extraterritorial repression on the work of diasporic political entrepreneurs, activists and/or journalists
- The role of geopolitics in shaping and framing Persian-language media located in Western Europe
- The role of official Iranian propaganda in relation to activities of those often deemed pro-regime, e.g. in Shiite mosques in Western Europe
We are open to a broad range of suggestions that are anchored in candidates’ knowledge and experience, and that utilize selected methods and theories from the humanities and social sciences more broadly.
The postdoc will be positioned at the University of Copenhagen, The Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Denmark. Further information on the Department is found at tors.ku.dk.
Candidates will benefit from a thriving, diverse and internationally oriented research environment at the Department. Interaction with scholars from other departments and universities is also strongly encouraged. It is possible that the candidate can take up a limited amount of teaching in order to gain experience.
Application
All applications must be submitted online, in PDF or Word format, via the link “Apply for the position” at the bottom of the page.
Applications may be written in Danish or English and must include the following attachments:
- Personal statement (max. one page)
- CV (max. two pages)
- Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma)
- Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk).
The list must be structured systematically and divided into the following categories:
- Peer-reviewed publications:
> Monographs and anthologies
> Articles in journals
> Book chapters/anthology contributions, etc.
- Non-peer-reviewed publications:
> Publications disseminating research findings, etc.
- Applicants can attach a maximum of three publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1–3.
- A research plan that outlines the idea for a research project that can serve as a component of the overall project framework and that addresses one or more of the key questions of the project (max. two pages).
Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German, French and Persian will be evaluated.
Assessment criteria
Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project framework described above.
Teaching qualifications are not a requirement, but documented teaching experience can be included in the overall assessment.
The recruitment process
Once the deadline for applications has expired, the head of department will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Dean will then set up an expert assessment committee to consider the applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. They will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.
Further information about the application procedure can be found on the University of Copenhagen’s website: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stilling/rekrutteringsproces or from HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please state ID number 211-1680/23-2I on request.
Further information about the position is available from the Head of Department, Annika Hvithamar, e-mail: hvithamar@hum.ku.dk.
Remuneration and terms of employment
The appointment is for a fixed term of 24 months and will be made in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). In addition, a total pension contribution of 17.1% of salary and pensionable supplements will be allocated. It will be possible to negotiate further supplements on the basis of qualifications.
We seek to reflect the breadth and diversity of society and encourage applications irrespective of personal background.
The deadline for applications is 9 February 2024 at 23:59 [CET].
Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.