News

Ph.D. Student Position in Primus Project

Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Position: Ph.D. Student in Anthropology, Religious Studies, Theology, Sociology, or related fields

Collaborative Project Start Date: January 1, 2024

Scholarship: 8 333 Kč/month (estimated work load 0,25)

Join our collaborative Primus project "Uncertain Futures: Exploring Religious Experience in the Age of Neoliberalism and the Anthropocene" at Charles University and contribute to groundbreaking research studying the unexplored aspects of religious change in the context of interlinked influences of economic and political globalization, environmental crisis, and technological change.

We look forward to welcoming a motivated Ph.D. student to our dynamic group.

Application Deadline: December 17, 2023

About Us: We are a dynamic and interdisciplinary research team consisting of three experienced researchers specialized in the study of religion. Our collaborative project, funded by and based at Charles University in Prague, focuses on religion in contemporary society. We are seeking a motivated, hardworking, and organized Ph.D. student to join our group and contribute to the exciting research endeavors ahead.

Project short description: This project aims at assessing the secularization paradigm in the social scientific study of religion and crafting new conceptual and methodological tools allowing a better understanding of the elusive nature of religion in late modernity. Our main objective is to shed light on how modern values of personal autonomy, self-transformation and desire to rule the material world, in the hope to live a better life, shape religious attitudes and subjectivities. The goal of the project is to approach social practices usually deemed secular (in scientific laboratories, managerial self-development and nationalistic rituals), namely their soteriological and eschatological properties. The study also explores unexpected connections and relationships between human, more-than-human, and non-human worlds, trying to understand how the social, the material, the technological and the environmental shape religion in late modernity.

Position Overview: The position offers a three-year contract, supported by a scholarship, and provides a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research. The selected student will participate in diverse research activities, including seminars and writing an article. She or he is expected to co-write an article or write an article on her/his own during these three years.

Qualifications:

- Currently enrolled as a Ph.D. student at Charles University

- Background in Religious Studies, Theology, Sociology, Socio-cultural Anthropology, or related fields

- Motivated, hardworking, and organized individual with a passion for interdisciplinary research

- English language (very good written and oral command of English)

- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a research team

Responsibilities:

- Collaborate with the research team on various aspects of the project

- Actively participate in project discussions and research seminars

- Engage in scholarly activities and writing a paper for publication

- Attend conferences and seminars to present research findings

- Assistance with research-related organisation and administration

Benefits:

- A three-year contract with financial support via a scholarship

- Networking and teamwork opportunities

- Friendly and informal working environment

- Acquiring experience in preparing and submitting grant applications

- Funding for international conferences (1 per year)

- Leading high-profile publications

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their applications by December 17, 2023, to be considered for the position. Applications must include the following:

- Curriculum Vitae (CV) with a focus on academic and research experiences

- A brief statement of motivation (max. 1 p.) highlighting the candidate's interest in the collaborative project

- Proof of enrolment to Ph.D.  studies at Charles University

Selection Process:

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews between 19-22 December.

Please send your application via email with all required documents by 17 December to the project manager Jana Krejčíková, and project researchers: Zuzana Bártová Agata Ładykowska , Viola Teisenhoffer .

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact the project members.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to hearing from you!