The successful applicant will be part of an international research team working on the project "Migration,Knowledge and Development: Role of Knowledge and Skills in the Migration Process",which is funded through the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research North-South(NCCR N-S), with financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
The project takes a critical perspective on the recently surfaced new "optimistic" discourse on migration,highlighting migrants’ potential as agents of global development. While usefully underscoringmigrants’ ability to create and spread knowledge and resources, this perspective risks portrayingmigrants as one homogenous group and ignoring individual or large-scale factors, like personalmotivation or societal context, which can limit their contributions to overall development. Drawingon case studies from Central and South Asia this research project aims to achieve a more differentiatedunderstanding of the dynamics of knowledge and skill flow in the migration process and itspossible linkages with development. The project’s concept note can be obtained from the contactgiven below.
Applicants should have a Master degree in Human Geography, Migration or Development Studiesor any relevant Social Sciences discipline. The successful candidate is expected to carry out fieldworkeither in rural and/or urban areas of Kyrgyzstan or in Kyrgyzstan and Nepal in a comparativeway. Candidates are requested to send:
- A letter of application and a full curriculum vitae including two names of possible referees;
- A draft PhD research sketch in English (about 4 pages) within the broader theme of the projecton "Migration, Knowledge and Development", incl. core research question and its justification;links to ongoing theoretical debates; possible empirical field research; relevant literature.
Basic knowledge of Russian is an asset but no pre-condition, but must be acquired at a later stage.
At Zurich, we offer a challenging position among a dynamic team of PhDs and senior researchersinvolved in critical development studies, with opportunities for international contacts, further trainingthrough Graduate Schools, and the gaining of teaching experience in our Bachelor and Mastercourses.
Please send your application by e-mail to Regina Kohler: regina.kohler@geo.uzh.ch.
Inquires to Dr. Susan Thieme: susan.thieme@geo.uzh.ch
General information
Closing date: April 7th, 2010