Fellowships in the ERC-funded Project

Staging National Abjection: Theatre and Politics in Turkey and Its Diasporas 

BA, MA and PhD Student
BA and MA Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowships

Application deadline: September 23, 2022

Start date: October 1, 2022, or as soon as possible thereafter

Duration: 12 months, subject to renewal for up to 24 months (max.) for BA and MA
students; for up to 36 months (max.) for BA and MA graduates, PhD students and
postdoctoral fellows

About the project

Conducted at Kadir Has University, Faculty of Communication under the direction of Dr. Rüstem Ertuğ Altınay, Staging National Abjection: Theatre and Politics in Turkey and Its Diasporas (STAGING-ABJECTION) is a five-year research project funded by the European Research Council’s (ERC) Starting Grants Program with a 1.5 million Euro grant.

Combining the transdisciplinary approach of performance studies with a rigorous research program, the project aims to be one of the most comprehensive critical studies on minoritarian theatre practices in Turkey and its diasporas, and put Turkey on the map of global theatre studies.

The project offers research positions for BA, MA, and PhD students, BA and MA
graduates, and postdoctoral fellows, beginning October 1, 2022.

Further information on the project is available at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/852216
Website of the project: https://stagingabjection.com/

Eligibility

● There are multiple positions available at each level in four categories and candidates may propose any topic related to the project. However, we also invite applicants specifically for:

1. Postdoctoral positions: At least one researcher working on Jewish theatre in Turkey and/or diasporic productions in Israel and Europe; at least one researcher working on Armenian theatre and/or theatre productions involving Armenians after 1915.

2. MA and PhD student positions: At least one student researcher working on Jewish theatre in Turkey and/or diasporic productions in Israel and Europe; at least one student researcher working on queer theatre in Turkey and/or diasporic productions in Europe; at least one researcher working on Armenian theatre and/or theatre productions involving Armenians after 1915.

3. MA and BA graduate positions: At least one researcher who will provide archival research support to the project, especially in the field of Ottoman Turkish documents and texts, or conduct ethnographic research on a subject related to the project, and produce public outreach outputs.

4. BA student positions: At least one student researcher who will provide support to the project in the fields of visual design, social media communication, activity organization, academic research, and produce public outreach outputs.

● The candidates applying for MA and PhD student and Postdoctoral positions are expected to present an original research proposal on a subject related to the project in their cover letter. The positions listed in the Categories 3 and 4 do not require a research proposal.
● Not all positions may be filled.

Main duties

● Conducting archival and ethnographic research on a specific topic relevant to the project (for all categories)
● Contributing to the project’s public outreach program (for all categories)
● Supporting the overall development of the project (for all categories)
● Publishing articles in top-ranking international journals (for Categories 1 and 2)
● Presenting research findings at selective academic conferences (for Categories 1 and 2)

Qualifications

● Proven academic excellence and dedication to academic research
● Excellent proficiency in English
● For Categories 1 and 2, proficiency in the specific language required by the applicant’s proposed research project (such as Armenian, Judeo-Spanish, Hebrew, Greek, Kurdish, German, French, Ottoman Turkish)
● Ability to work both in a team environment and independently

Benefits

● Postdoctoral positions: The post-doctoral fellows will be employed for 12 months, subject to renewal. The maximum working time on the project is 36 months. They will receive a full-time monthly net stipend of 10.500 TL* with social security benefits (SGK) as well as an annual travel budget. All postdoctoral fellows working full-time on the project will also receive an additional living allowance and research support of 4000 TL from Kadir Has University.

● PhD student positions: The PhD student researchers will be employed for 12 months, subject to renewal. The maximum working time on the project is 36 months. They will work .75 FTE and receive a monthly net stipend of 8.000 TL* with full social security benefits (SGK) as well as an annual travel budget. If the student is enrolled in a PhD program at Kadir Has University, they will also receive an additional living allowance and research support of 3000 TL.

● MA graduate positions: The researchers with MA degrees will be employed for 12 months, subject to renewal. The maximum working time on the project is 36 months. They will work full-time and receive a monthly net stipend of 8.500 TL with full social security benefits (SGK) as well as an annual travel budget.

● MA student positions: The MA student researchers will be employed for 12 months, subject to renewal. The maximum working time on the project is 24 months. They will work .75 FTE and receive a monthly net stipend of 6.000 TL* with full social security benefits (SGK) as well as an annual travel budget. If the student is enrolled in an MA program at Kadir Has University, they will also receive an additional living allowance and research support of 2000 TL.

● BA graduate positions: Researchers with BA degrees will be employed for 12 months, subject to renewal. The maximum working time on the project is 36 months. They will work full-time and receive a monthly net stipend of 7.500 TL with full social security benefits (SGK) as well as an annual travel budget.

● BA student positions: The BA student researchers will be employed for 12 months, subject to renewal. The maximum working time on the project is 24 months. They will work .30 FTE and receive a monthly net stipend of 1.650 TL with full social security benefits (SGK) as well as an annual travel budget. If the student is enrolled in a BA program at Kadir Has University, they will also receive an additional living allowance and research support of 500 TL.

* For legal reasons, the stipends of the researchers have to conform to the salary and scholarship scales determined by TÜBİTAK. The researchers working on the project will receive a raise whenever TÜBİTAK gives a raise.

Application Requirements for MA and PhD Students and Postdoctoral Researchers (Categories 1 and 2)

● Cover letter in English describing the candidates’ academic experience and qualifications, and presenting an original research proposal on a subject related to the ERC project
● Curriculum Vitae
● One writing sample in English
● Three confidential letters of reference (at least two should be academic, one letter may be professional), to be sent directly to [email protected]

Application Requirements for Researchers with BA and MA Degrees (Category 3)

● Cover letter in English describing the candidates’ academic experience and qualifications, and explaining why they would like to join the ERC team
● Curriculum Vitae
● Three confidential letters of reference (at least two should be academic, one letter may be professional), to be sent directly to [email protected]

Application Requirements for BA Student Researchers (Category 4)

● Cover letter in English describing the candidates’ academic experience and qualifications, and explaining why they would like to join the ERC team
● Curriculum Vitae
● Portfolio
● Two confidential letters of reference (at least one should be academic, one letter may be professional), to be sent directly to [email protected]

Please send all requested materials (except for the letters of reference) electronically in a single PDF file to [email protected] by September 23, 2022. All letters of reference should also arrive by the same deadline. Zoom interviews with selected candidates will be on September 25 and 26, 2022.