Origen: PhD studentship in Catalan and/or Ukrainian – Job Opportunities – University of Cambridge

A fully-funded 3-year PhD studentship is available at the University of Cambridge in conjunction with the research project ‘Multilingualism: Empowering Individuals, Transforming Societies (MEITS)’, funded by the AHRC under the Open World Research Initiative to promote modern languages in the UK. The project is led by the University of Cambridge (PI Wendy Ayres-Bennett), and comprises a team of 13 other Co-Is, 14 Post-doctoral researchers and 6 PhD students who will be based at the University of Cambridge and at the three partner universities, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Queen’s Belfast.

MEITS is an exciting multidisciplinary project, which includes 6 research strands which will explore multilingualism from a range of perspectives. We are seeking to recruit a PhD candidate who will work on Stand 1: Arts of identity: literature, cinema, culture and citizenship in a globalizing Europe. The project has a number of key non-HEI partners and there is an important policy and public engagement dimension to the work. We expect candidates for the studentship to be open to exploring and developing new interdisciplinary approaches and, if necessary, to learn a new language.The studentship will start in October 2016, or as soon as possible thereafter. Funding will cover the University Composition Fee and an annual stipend for three years to RCUK minimum level (2016/17: £14,296); due to funding restrictions, the studentship/project is only able to cover the UK or EU level of fees.

Stand 1: Arts of identity: literature, cinema, culture and citizenship in a globalizing Europe Supervisors Brad Epps and/or Rory Finnin

With a focus on Catalan and Ukrainian, this project on multilingualism examines the relationships between literary and cultural production, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and linguistic unity in the context of globalisation and mass migration from the late nineteenth century to the present. It explores how political regimes of various stripes engage or ignore, champion or combat, the realities of linguistic diversity. It pays particular attention to the ways literature, cinema, theatre and other modes of artistic creation bear on questions of universalism and particularism, normalisation and difference, national identity, educational policy and participatory citizenship.

Applicants for the studentship associated with this strand should ideally have a background in either Hispanic Studies or Slavonic Studies; advanced knowledge of Catalan and/or Ukrainian; and familiarity with the plurinational regions in which they are spoken (Spain, France, Italy; Ukraine, Russia, Poland). Whilst candidates may specialise in either Romance (Catalan) or Slavonic (Ukrainian), those with knowledge of both areas are particularly welcome. In their statement of interest, candidates should outline a proposed research project and state how this sits within the main themes of the strand.

The successful candidate will be based either in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and/or the Department of Slavonic Studies in the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge. For informal enquiries about this studentship, please contact Professor Epps (be243@cam.ac.uk) and/or Dr Finnin (ref35@cam.ac.uk). Further information about the project can be obtained from Professor Ayres-Bennett (wmb1001@cam.ac.uk).

Applicants for the studentship should have:

1. A First or Upper-Second (2.i) class first degree in the relevant discipline;
2. (Or be expected to achieve) a distinction in a relevant Masters programme;
3. Excellent communication and organisational skills and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary research team;
4. The standing needed to meet the graduate admissions entrance requirements of the University of Cambridge.

To apply, please complete an application form (available at http://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/faculty/jobs) and email this, along with your CV, a statement of interest, two letters of reference and transcripts to wmb1001@cam.ac.uk. The deadline for applications is midday (BST) on Thursday 30 June 2016. Please quote reference GP09301 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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