PRR Project

Summary

This position aims to develop research activities in the area of African Studies, with a special focus on activism and citizenship. Candidates will be hired as an Assistant Researcher and should demonstrate expertise, and previous experience, in interdisciplinary research within African Studies, Political Science, and Social Movements. The responsibilities to be assigned to the selected researcher encompass the following aspects: to apply to competitive national and international funding opportunities; carrying out research projects and studies of in-depth analyses of regional dynamics, emerging trends, and main social movements; to produce high-quality research outputs and to contribute and participate in the international policy agenda; to identify and participate in key international networks relevant to CEI-Iscte; publish and supervise theses and dissertations; and establish partnerships and institutional collaborations on the topics and scientific fields indicated above. Additionally, it is expected that the dissemination of results occurs strategically, both at national and international levels: facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering engagement with civil society, identifying main stakeholders, and establishing collaborations to enhance the communication of findings to target audiences. The areas identified above are strategically vital for the Centre for International Studies, as African Studies is one of the core areas of the Centre.  On one hand, it’s crucial to hire a researcher who focuses on the topics of social movements and citizenship, as this position will be crucial to consolidate the research group “Democracy, Activism and Citizenship”, intersecting with one of the Centre’s main strategic Regional Line: Africa. This position will thus be committed to responding to the increasing relevance of social movements, promoting interdisciplinary approaches to African Studies, and enriching the scientific understanding of Africa and its diverse cultures, history, socio-political dynamics, and community-based initiatives. On the other hand, this strategic alignment reflects the Centre’s broader strategy of becoming an internationally recognized Research Centre in International Studies, not only looking at global phenomena from a comprehensive perspective but also to delve into deeper regional specializations that is representative of Area Studies. Moreover, the study of social movements serves as a catalyst for transformation, advocating for policy changes and institutional reforms. This impact of influencing the policy agendas aligns seamlessly with the core objective of the Associated Laboratory of Iscte: SocioDigital Lab for Public Policy and Technology (SDLab). While CEI-Iscte is linked to all Thematic Lines (TL) of the SDLab, this position aligns with the TL “Promoting Inclusion, Equality and Citizenship” which focuses on the study of the inequalities produced by different practices of citizenship (at various levels) and standards of quality of life, namely those based on ethnic diversity, age, gender, sexuality, language, religious identity, and other dimensions associated with greater social vulnerability. This role is based on the institution´s commitment to advancing knowledge, promoting interdisciplinary research, and extending beyond academic boundaries, promoting interdisciplinary approaches, and actively contributing to societal change and inclusivity, pressing issues of the 21st Century.