"PhD position 'Sustaining Borders and Displacement Through Refugee Entrepreneurship'"

Job Summary

The Department of Society Studies is seeking a PhD candidate to conduct in-depth ethnographic research on bordering practices in entrepreneurship and other life-sustaining programs for refugees in protracted situations in the Global South. This research will explore how programs promoting refugees' self-reliance, such as entrepreneurship training, may shape experiences of displacement and involve border-making practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop a research and fieldwork plan, considering ethics and data management procedures.
• Conduct ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews and participant observation, in a chosen case study country for up to 12 months.
• Perform archival research on refugee entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and related initiatives.
• Write a doctoral dissertation and co-author 1-2 publications.
• Participate in group meetings, organize events and workshops, and present work-in-progress at international workshops and conferences.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A completed Master’s degree in Anthropology, Geography, Sociology, or related fields such as migration studies, humanitarian studies, or international development studies.
• Demonstrable experience with qualitative research methods, particularly ethnographic fieldwork.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Advanced English language competency.
• Excellent organizational skills and motivation to meet deadlines.
• Working knowledge of a language necessary for conducting research in the chosen country.
• Residence in Maastricht or the surrounding region (except during fieldwork).

What the Employer Offers

• Employment at Maastricht University with a salary from €3059 to €3881 gross per month based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week.
• An initial 12-month contract with potential extension to 3 years upon positive evaluation.
• 8.0% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus.
• Flexible working hours, possibility to work partly from home, 29 vacation days plus 4 additional public holidays, and potential for 12 extra compensation days.
• Access to training programs, pension scheme, company fitness, and sports facilities.
• Support for personal and professional development.