Call for Applications IDEoPOP doctoral fellowship
Bilkent University invites applications for one doctoral fellowship in the new pan-European doctoral network ‘The International Dimensions and Effects of Populism’ (IDEoPOP).
Funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN), IDEoPOP explores how populism intersects with both domestic and international politics and how it impacts international politics. Under the guidance of some of the leading scholars in this area, the doctoral candidates will be trained in the study of the international dimensions and effects of populism.
IDEoPOP offers training-through-research within a uniquely structured doctoral programme imparting academic and complementary professional skills. A multifaceted scholarly training is provided jointly by seven academic partners: University of Freiburg (Germany), Sciences Po Paris (France), University of Gothenburg (Sweden), Bilkent University (Turkey), University of Genoa (Italy), Jagiellonian University (Poland), and University of Bath (UK). Moreover, doctoral candidates will learn how to develop and communicate academic and policy-relevant solutions to the challenges posed by populism in international politics via temporary assignments to renowned think tanks (Institute of International Relations Prague, International Youth Think Tank in Gothenburg, Institute for International Economic Relations in Athens, BRICS Policy Center in Rio de Janeiro, Stiftung Genshagen near Berlin, and Institut Jacques Delors in Paris).
The comprehensive training in IDEoPOP will prepare doctoral candidates for careers in academia, think tanks, government agencies, international organizations, or NGOs dealing with issues of democracy and international cooperation.
Doctoral Fellowship Requirements
We seek one highly motivated early-stage researcher who holds a Master’s degree in Political Science or a related discipline and possesses excellent theoretical and empirical skills. Proficiency in English is a requirement. Applications should be directed at the particular PhD project detailed below. (If you apply for more than one position within the IDEoPOP network, please submit your applications separately to each institution, mentioning for which other position in the network you also applied.)
Doctoral candidates’ recruitment is subject to the mobility rule. Applicants may be nationals of Member States, Associated Countries, or any other third country. Additionally, the applicant must not have lived or worked in Turkey for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to their date of recruitment, excluding short stays such as holidays.
Applicants who hold a doctorate at the date of recruitment are ineligible.
The selected candidates should ideally begin their PhD enrolment/employment in early 2025.
Doctoral Fellowship Benefits
IDEoPOP offers PhD candidates an exceptional opportunity to become part of a pan-European doctoral network. They will acquire a broad range of research-focused skills in direct cooperation with established scholars of an emerging, highly topical research field. Their employability is further strengthened through secondments at associated think tanks.
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellows are offered a full-time, three-year contract. An attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for doctoral candidates is offered. The monthly gross salary includes 2194€ per month Living Allowance, 600€ Mobility Allowance and 660€ per month Family Allowance (if applicable). Please note that all compulsory national contributions (social security, pension, insurances, taxes etc.) to be borne by the employer and employee shall be deducted from the above mentioned amount in line with MSCA rules.
Position Doctoral Candidate DC1
Title of the project: Populist Conceptions of World Order and the International (Research)
Project description: This project will carry out a mapping and an analysis of populist conceptions of world order and the international. Populists’ approaches to foreign policy are studied with a focus on domestic politics. There is also the international dimension. Populists often invoke the international when making their case to the public. The idea here is to study how populist actors conceive of world order and the international world so as to have a more comprehensive grasp of their foreign policy beyond domestic dynamics alone. The case study will be picked from Central and Eastern Europe (including Turkey) so as to be able to explore a post-imperial setting, therefore adding another layer of insight to customary post-colonial insights.
First supervisor: Prof. Dr. Pınar Bilgin, Bilkent University
Second supervisor: Professor Leslie Wehner, University of Bath
Planned secondment(s): UBAH, Leslie Wehner, months 14-16 after recruitment, 3 months, co-supervision, development of thesis; IIR Prague, Mats Braun, months 30-31 after recruitment, 2 months, improving non-academic skills
Documentation to be sent in by the applicants
– Cover letter shortly describing motivation and research interests. The letter should also indicate if any other doctoral positions advertised within IDEoPOP have been applied for, including the order of preference.
– Project proposal describing how the candidate would approach the PhD topic (research question, theoretical approach, proposed methods, focus of empirical analysis). The length of the proposal should be 3 pages (font size 12), excluding references
– CV (summarizing education, previous positions, academic work, and, if relevant, a list of publications).
– Copy of MA degree diploma(s) and full academic transcripts with grades. Minimum of CGPA 3.00/4.00 (in the last program of study)
– Exam results: either GRE: Ph.D.: 298 (verbal and quantitative total + minimum 4.0 analytical) or ALES: Ph.D.: 55 (equally-weighted)
– English Proficiency: either M TOEFL IBT (at least 87), or IELTS (at least 6.5 average and 5.5 from each section), or Bilkent PAE (at least C). Validity period for all exams: 2 years
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP HAS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (ON TOP OF BILKENT UNIVERSITY POLS DEPARTMENT ADMISSION CRITERIA).
Deadline: 15 November 2024
For inquiries regarding the IDEoPOP fellowship, please write to Professor Pınar Bilgin at pbilgin@bilkent.edu.tr.
To apply, please click here.