Deadline: May 31, 2023
80%, Fribourg, 4 years
The Domaine Slavistique of the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) is looking for a PhD student to work on a research project on the intellectual and cultural history of the Ukrainian émigré community in interwar Prague.
Project background
You will be involved in the SNF-funded project “Communities of Dialogue: Russian and Ukrainian Émigrés in Modernist Prague”, led by Dr. Patrick Flack (full details: https://comdial.sdvipress.org). The project explores the concrete intellectual entanglements of the Russian and Ukrainian émigré communities in Prague during the interwar period (1918-1938) and clarifies the modalities of their participation in both Prague modernism and the European human sciences. Specifically, it investigates the forms of institutional and personal cooperation through which Russian and Ukrainian émigrés organised their own communities and shaped modernist Prague, focussing on the collaborative activities of key mediating figures. The project aims to deliver a new picture of interwar Prague, redefining the role of intercultural dialogue between specific traditions in its development as a European centre of modernism and human sciences. It provides a major contribution to research on Russian emigration in one of its least studied centres, as well as a new study of the intellectual impact of Ukrainian émigrés in Prague. Further, it explores comparatively the links between exile, political identity and intellectual cultures in the interwar period.
The position will begin in the autumn of 2023 at an agreed-upon date.
Job description
You will design and carry out an independent research project on a subject closely related to the cultural and intellectual history of Ukrainian émigrés in interwar Prague (1918-1938). You will write and defend a PhD thesis, present your research at national and international conferences, as well as contribute to the group’s tasks and activities (in particular co-organisation of workshops).
You will work under the co-supervision of Prof. Jens Herlth (Fribourg) and Prof. Ulrich Schmid (St. Gallen) and be integrated to the Domaine slavistique of the University of Fribourg. You will have access to an office and to the domaine’s facilities (dedicated library).
Your profile
- You hold a master’s degree in Slavic studies, philosophy, history or a related field.
- You have good or excellent knowledge of English, of either French or German, and of either Russian, Ukrainian or Czech. You are willing to acquire reading knowledge of Ukrainian if you do not have it.
- You are motivated to design and pursue your own independent research project, but are also team-oriented and are ready to contribute to a collective research effort.
- Ideally, you are interested in digital methods in the humanities.
We offer
- Competitive salary
- Excellent working conditions in a culturally diverse environment
- Interdisciplinary support (philosophy, history, cultural and literary studies) for your research on a highly topical theme
- Beautiful university town of Fribourg and the nearby Swiss Alps
Curious? So are we.
We are looking forward to receiving your application (by email at patrick.flack@unifr.ch) with the following documents:
- a cover letter stating your motivation for this position, relevant skills, and research interests,
- your CV,
- copy of your Master’s diploma,
- a writing sample (e.g., a paper/report, or draft of your Masters’ thesis) and
- contact details of two references.
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Patrick Flack by email at patrick.flack@unifr.ch or visit our webpage: https://comdial.sdvigpress.org
Deadline for applications: 31 May 2023