PRR Project

Summary

NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities seeks to expand its academic staff by appointing an Assistant Researcher in African History, with an emphasis on institutional, political and social history of African communities. The selected candidate will develop her/his research as a member of HTC-CFE (History, Territory and Communities-Centre for Functional Ecology) and as an active member of the research strategy of NOVA FCSH, in particular the Research Axe  line ´Arts and Humanities´. The key responsibilities include: Design and conduct independent research on topics related to the social, political, and institutional history of African communities, memory, territories, and sustainability. Generate and disseminate high-quality research findings, in international peer-reviewed journals. Contribute to a supportive and productive research community, specifically by supporting the HTC research strategy, as well as NOVA FCSH strategic areas: ‘ Arts and Humanities’ but also ‘Memory and Heritage’; ‘Territory and Sustainable Environments’. Design and submit applications for competitive research funding.Actively develop efforts to establish meaningful collaborative work with academic and non-academic institutions, laying the groundwork for future partnerships and social engagement. Supervise post-graduate students, by providing mentoring and advice. Develop and teach courses, including African History, thus actively contributing to the renewal and ongoing improvement of curricula and educational practices at all levels. Regarding the required scientific profile, a successful candidate must have: PhD degree in History. Specific expertise in territories and communities in Africa, colonial history and decolonization, as well as state organization and public policies. Experience in designing and implementing individual and collective research projects. Experience in working with oral history methodologies. Training and fieldwork experience with communities in Africa. Experience in developing and working with collective databases for information processing. Experience in organizing international scientific events. Experience in organizing extra-academic scientific activities. Experience in supervising post-graduate students, by providing mentoring and advice. Teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, especially in African History, and in innovative pedagogical approaches, including new technologies applied to teaching and distance learning. Moreover, she/he must demonstrate outstanding research qualities demonstrated through an established track record of relevant publications, including peer-reviewed, international journals, books, and other relevant outlets; have a proven experience in interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research teams; be an active member of relevant networks (academic and non-academic) in the research topics covered; show a strong focus on societal engagement and knowledge exchange with relevant stakeholders and society in general. The recruitment of an Assistant Researcher in the thematic area of African History, with an emphasis on the institutional, political, and social history of African communities, would enable HTC and NOVA FCSH to consolidate studies in an emerging geographical area.  HTC has already begun exploring such research lines through fieldwork in the continent. On one hand, guided by studying the past in light to present challenges, the successful applicant would provide HTC with very specific knowledge necessary to pursue projects aimed at the African space in collaboration with other units and institutions. These projects include collecting and processing the memories and knowledge of local communities and enhancing their intangible and tangible heritage. On the other hand, this profile would facilitate dialogue between the HTC and the life sciences, particularly through its strategic alliance with the Center for Functional Ecology, to address multidisciplinary responses to current and future human challenges, especially regarding community mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Understanding the political, socio-organizational dimension and institutional aspects of Africa’s transformations is fundamental for formulating viable responses pursued by the HTC - CEF alliance. Furthermore, following this research line, this position could contribute to the development of externally funded research projects and establish links with both African institutions and those interested in African studies. Bearing in mind the strategic objectives defined by NOVA-FCSH, the selected applicant is expected to be integrated into one of them, as above mentioned. Despite being a researcher profile, it could also contribute to the diversification of the curriculum already offered by NOVA FCSH namely new courses on Africa at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.