Tampere University creates a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our universities community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. Read more: www.tuni.fi/en

We are now looking for three postdoctoral research fellows to carry out research in HOMCRI-research project, especially in relation to work conducted in West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon. Fixed-term positions are filled for 3 years (36 months, full time), starting from 1 November (or upon agreement).

The ERC-funded project Dwelling with Crisis: Home at Spaces of Chronic Violence (HOMCRI) studies incapacitating material, affective, and political conditions of home-making and everyday dwelling in spaces of economic collapse, infrastructural shortage, protracted state/settler violence and/or war-torn environments. It focuses on three different regions – West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon – to (i) explore ways of making home in spaces constantly exposed to affective disruptions, political incapacitations, and material negations, and to so (ii) develop novel methodological and conceptual ways for thinking the negative politics of materiality, affect and dwelling/home.

Job Description

The role of the postdoctoral researchers is to conduct research as part of the HOMCRI-project, funded by a European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant). The five-year project (2023-2028) is led by Dr Mikko Joronen and is implemented by a research team of altogether 4 postdoctoral researchers, 2 PhD-students, a senior research fellow, PI, and a coordinator-researcher. For each region – West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon – is allocated one of the three postdoctoral researcher positions. 

The hired postdoctoral researcher will focus on the named region (either Gaza, West Bank or Lebanon) and will be responsible for conducting fieldwork in and research on the named region. Postdoctoral researcher is expected to devote most of the time to research, including independent and collaborative fieldwork, analysis of research materials, publishing and dissemination of results, and collaboration with other project team members and international partners as outlined in the project plan. The remaining work time will be devoted to other project activities and teaching (no more than 5% of annual work time); these will be agreed upon separately. 

The position provides an excellent opportunity to develop independent research profile in relation to key themes of the project, and by working with an interdisciplinary research team on themes closely related to critical and political geographies of materiality, affect and home in the Middle East. 

Requirements 

We are looking for candidates with a doctoral degree in human geography or other relevant fields in social sciences and humanities. Demonstrated research experience on Middle East (Palestine and Lebanon in particular) and on thematic and conceptual aspects related to the project are a key for a successful application. We welcome all relevant disciplinary backgrounds but consider knowledge on the fields closely associated with political geography an advantage. 

Postdoctoral researcher is expected to be able to conduct independent research, to publish in key relevant international journals, and to collaborate with other team members in various parts of the project. Excellent knowledge on relevant qualitative methods, including participatory/ethnographic research, theme interviews, and workshop organization, and key methodological and conceptual debates (in human/political geography and/or other related fields, such as anthropology, sociology, and political science) on politics of affects and materiality, especially in relation to home, dwelling and questions of power, are a key for successful application.

Candidate’s own research interests and areas of strength, and the thematic, methodological, and theoretical specifications they offer to complement the research aims/themes of the HOMCRI-project should be elaborated in a separate Letter of Motivation. We expect the candidate to demonstrate a strong level of motivation and commitment to HOMCRI-project, and a good level of English in writing and communication. 

When evaluating candidates, we will consider the following criteria: 

• The alignment of your research profile and ideas with the goals of the project
• The potential of your research profile for implementing and expanding the project 
• Your knowledge on relevant qualitative methods and theoretical backgrounds        
• Your experience on Middle East and ability to conduct research in named region
• Your experience in conducting independent and joint research, and in developing research ideas and methodologies
• Your track record of international scholarly activity in relation to your current academic career phase

We also expect the candidate to be willing to travel to named research site(s). Arabic language skills are seen as an advantage. 

We Offer

Postdoctoral researcher will be hired for a fixed term of 36 months (full time). The start date will be 1 November 2023, which can be negotiated (to no later than early 2024). 

The salary for a postdoctoral researcher will be based on the job demands and the employee's personal performance as presented in University Salary System. According to the criteria (for teaching and research staff), the position of a postdoctoral researcher is placed at level 5, in addition to which employees receive performance-based salary. Depending on the career stage the salary is typically between 3600€ to 4000€ per month.  A trial period of 6 months applies to all our new employees.

The applicants will work as part of the HOMCRI-project research team, and as part of the Space and Political Agency Research Group (SPARG) and Palestine Research Group (PRG) (located at Administrative Studies, Faculty of Management and Business), which offer great opportunities for young researchers to develop their careers in a highly international environment.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University.

How to Apply 

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (see the link below the add). The closing date for applications is 1 October (at 23.59 EEST / 20.59 UTC). Please write your application and all accompanying documents in English.

The following documents must be attached (in PDF format) to the online application:

1. Letter of Motivation: a short description (max 3 pages; Times New Roman or similar; font size 12; 1.5 line spacing) on how you would grasp/develop project themes (as described above); how these plans are supported by your past research, key strengths, and research expertise; and your motivation to work as part of a research team. 
2. Curriculum vitae (following TENK guidelines)
3. List of publications (following Academy of Finland guidelines)
4. Recommendations (you may add a contact info of max 2 references, no separate letters are required).

You may apply to more than one of the open positions. In a case of applying multiple positions, please properly acknowledge this when writing the letter of motivation. Each extra position can add max. 1 page to the page limit of the letter (if applying to all three positions, maximum length of the letter is 5 pages).

If you would like to get more information on the position and the project, please do not hesitate to contact the project PI, Dr Mikko Joronen, mikko.joronen(at)tuni.fi. 

For more information about the application process, please contact HR Specialist Anni Zilliacus, anni.zilliacus(at)tuni.fi)

********************************************************

Tutkijatohtori (HOMCRI-tutkimushanke), kolme tehtävää

Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat yhdessä Suomen toiseksi suurimman monitieteisen, innostavan ja vaikuttavan tutkimus- ja oppimisyhteisön. Korkeakouluyhteisömme osaamiskärjet ovat tekniikka, terveys ja yhteiskunta. Lue lisää: www.tuni.fi

Etsimme kolmea tutkijatohtoria HOMCRI-tutkimushankkeeseen tekemään tutkimusta miehitetyillä Palestiinalaisalueilla (Länsiranta ja Gaza) ja Libanonissa. Tehtävä täytetään määräaikaisena 3 vuodeksi (36 kuukautta), alkaen 1.11.2023 (tai erikseen sopien).

Tutkijatohtorin tehtävänä on toimia osana Euroopan tutkimusneuvoston (ERC Consolidator Grant) rahoittamaa Dwelling with Crisis: Home at Spaces of Chronic Violence -hanketta. Projektissa tarkastellaan tapoja asua pitkittyneiden yhteiskunnallisten kriisien keskellä, ja siinä perehdytään etenkin arkielämästä erottaviin materiaalisiin, affektuaalisiin ja poliittisiin olosuhteisiin, sekä asumiseen taloudellisen romahduksen, infrastrukturaalisten puutteiden, pitkittyneen väkivallan ja sodan muokkaamissa ympäristöissä. Tutkimusta tehdään kolmella alueella – Länsirannalla, Gazassa ja Libanonissa – joista jokaiselle haetaan yhtä tutkijatohtoria. Viisivuotista projektia (2023-2028) johtaa yliopistotutkija Mikko Joronen.

Tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet löydät yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta.  Jätäthän hakemuksesi yliopiston sähköisellä hakulomakkeella (linkki löytyy tämän ilmoituksen alta). Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy sunnuntaina 1.10.2023, klo 23:59.