POST-DOCTORAL POSITION, RELIGION AND POLITICS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, TWO
YEARS (7-2014-6/2016)

This is a call for applications for one full-time post-doctoral position
in European studies and politology of religion, based at the Université
Libre de Bruxelles. The researcher will work in the framework of a
project funded by the Belgian scientific agency (FNRS), under the
supervision of the principal investigator François Foret. Prospective
candidates are hereby invited to submit their application as described
below. The deadline for submitting applications is 15/5/2014, for a
start on the 1/7/2014.

Presentation of the project "Importing God, exporting secularism? How
the European Union deals with religion"

The European Union is commonly presented as an exceptionally "godless"
part of a world where religion still matters very much. However, under
external pressures (from diplomatic crises to migrations), the EU would
have to take religion back in by entering a post-secular era. The
project aims at discussing these assumptions. The purpose is to see
whether the resurgence of religion on the European agenda is internally-
or externally-driven, what are its incentives and outcomes. Three
working packages investigate the notion of European secularism; and how
this European secularism is challenged from outside and within two EU
policy sectors, foreign affairs and immigration.

Workloads linked to the post-doctoral mandate will include various
contributions to the project, among others: state of the art of the
debate about European secularism and « multiple modernities »;
organizational analysis of political and policy structures of the EU
dealing with migration and foreign affairs; interviews with civil
servants, political representatives and members of civil society;
management of online surveys; supervision of parliamentary debates and
qualitative case studies.

The post-doc will be considered as a full member of the team and will
co-sign some publications in peer-reviewed supports. He/she will have to
fulfil the requirements but will also have opportunities for
self-development in order to prepare subsequent steps in a scientific
career. Experience in teaching will be considered. Management and
communication tasks are also included.

Work environment and conditions
The research will be developed at the Centre d'étude de la vie politique
(CEVIPOL), the main political science research unit of the ULB, and at
the Institut d'études européennes (IEE), one of the oldest Jean Monnet
Centres of Excellence in Europe. It will rely on a supportive
interdisciplinary environment made of political scientists,
internationalists, lawyers and historians working on European
integration and interactions between religion and politics. The post-doc
will evolve in a dynamic international network of collaboration with
other universities (Cambridge, Georgetown, GenevaŠ). Travels and short
research stays may be included in the activities. The hired person will
have an office and relevant resources at the IEE-ULB. Living in Brussels
for the two years period is required. The working contract will be
managed by the university according to Belgian standards, in the
conditions defined by the FNRS.

Following these conditions, "postdoctoral researchers must hold, since
at the most 7 years on the date of the hiring, a doctoral academic
degree obtained after the defense of a thesis". The successful candidate
must be in "international mobility", meaning that he/she should not have
lived or worked in Belgium more than 24 months in the last three years.
According to the experience of the candidate, the net salary will be
around 2200 euros per month plus social security.

Your Profile:
- Ph.D. in political science or a directly related field (international
relations, sociologyŠ) with a focus on religion and politics
- Proved expertise in EU politics at doctoral level
- Strong record in qualitative research and fieldwork (interviews,
observation, documentary analysisŠ). Quantitative skills are an extra
asset.
- Experience with working in an international environment
- Very good command of English and preferably French
- Ability to work in a team, to meet deadlines and to combine autonomy
with respect of guidelines

How to apply
The candidate will be selected on the basis of the quality of his/her
CV, research achievements, motivation and congruence with the project.
The following application documents are to be consolidated into a single
PDF file sent per email to: Michela Arcarese ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)
- a one-page motivation letter explaining the candidate's interest in
collaborating to the project
- a curriculum vitae listing all academic qualifications, relevant
research experience and previous publications
- name, mail and phone number of three referees to be contacted if
necessary
- a copy of the PhD and master diploma The position is for two years,
from July 2014 to end of June 2016.

A phone or face-to-face interview may be organized if necessary
Applications are welcome till 15/5/2014. Short-listed candidates will be
informed in the second half of May and the final decision will be taken
in early June. For further inquiries, please contact Prof. François
Foret ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>).


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