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The Department of Communication Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences is looking for a full-time (100%) doctoral scholarship holder to work on the ERC funded project ReWorkChange - Remote Work and Social Change: An Anthropological Approach.
Position
- You will work actively on the ERC CoG project ReWorkChange - Remote Work and Social Change: An Anthropological Approach, under the supervision of Prof. Elisabetta Costa. The objective of the project is to investigate the social consequences of remote work. The project will conduct a comparative study of the consequences of remote work on people’s everyday lives in six countries: China, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands and Turkey. It will provide rich and compelling ethnographic evidence of everyday practices and will generate theories of social institutions and a broader theory of remote work and social change. What are the consequences of remote work and always-on-connectivity on people's everyday lives? How do these affect social institutions such as the home, family, household and friendship, as well as broader processes of social change? ReWorkChange aims to answer these questions by delivering a comparative ethnographic study of the societal consequences of remote work. The project is grounded in long-term ethnographic fieldwork. It builds on the methods of anthropology and digital anthropology that emphasize direct observation of places, media, technologies, and practices. You will conduct ethnographic research in India.
- As part of an international research team you will conduct ethnographic research in India.
- You will develop your own PhD project and write a thesis related to the topic of ReWorkChange. The PhD will be supervised by Professor Elisabetta Costa.
- You will jointly draft articles, books, and other outputs for scholarly publication.
- You will present your work at national and international conferences.
- You will gain insights into and support the management of an ERC funded project.
- You will be member of the vibrant community of ViDi (Visual and Digital Cultures Research Centre) and participate in the Antwerp Doctoral School
Profile
- You hold a Master degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, Media and Communication Studies, Visual and/or Digital Cultures or related disciplines, or will have obtained it by the time you start the project.
- You speak Hindi.
- You have excellent oral and written English skills
- You have a solid background in qualitative research methods and are willing to carry out ethnographic fieldwork in India.
- Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
- Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
- You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
What we offer
- We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship will be renewed for another two years.
- The planned start date is 1st October 2025.
- Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
- You will receive ecocheques, an Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
- You will do most of your work at the City Campus of the University of Antwerp in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
- Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.
Want to apply?
- You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 22nd May, 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
- a motivation letter
- your academic CV
- a one-page proposal for a potential PhD project related to the overall topic of ReWorkChange
- The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure. If you are shortlisted, interviews will take place in June.
- If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to [email protected]. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. dr. Elisabetta Costa ([email protected])
The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.
