Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER) calls for applications for two 2 to 3 year fellowships to be awarded to outstanding students in appropriate fields of study for the academic year starting in 2013.
WiSER has over the last ten years established itself as the leading South African interdisciplinary research institute in the Humanities and Social Sciences, promoting local and international debate on the complexities of change in South Africa and Africa, understood from comparative and global perspectives.
A strong commitment to doctoral training and supervision is a critical part of WISER’s mission. Funding from the Mellon Foundation has enabled them to continue our long-standing doctoral fellowship programme.
Eligible Disciplines
Candidates should have a distinguished academic record in one of the following disciplines: sociology, history, philosophy, anthropology, literary studies, cultural studies, art, drama, law, public health and human geography.
WiSER’s research is focused around five themes: Emergent Political Languages and the Public Sphere; Violence and War; Urban Forms and City Lives; The State in motion; Life, Death and the Self; Passages of meaning: image, sound and text.
Worth of Awards
Fellows will receive funding for three years; the package for the first year will be R135 000. This will cover university fees, research expenses and a living allowance. Some assistance with conference funding may also be available. Fellows will be required to undertake up to 5 hours work a week for WiSER.
Note: This is a full-time programme and is not compatible with other employment. Doctoral fellows will work within the Institute, and be expected to work closely with research staff, and to participate fully in the intellectual life of the Institute.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following:
1. A detailed and up to date CV, which shows clearly your undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and component courses of study.
2. A recent publication or piece of written work, drawing on your past research.
3. Names and contact details (including email addresses) of three academic referees.
4. Certified copies of degrees and diplomas.
5. A detailed covering letter explaining clearly and carefully your interest in WISER, your proposed area of doctoral research and how it might fit into one of the WiSER research themes.
More information about WiSER and its research themes is available at www.wits.ac.za/wiser
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applications should be sent by email to Ms. Najibha Deshmukh on [email protected]
Deadline: March 5, 2013
For more information about the fellowship, click here.
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