Dear all,

Apologies for cross-posting.

We are currently seeking to recruit Research Fellows (PhD students) for the following two research projects. The application deadline for all positions is 27 June 2023.

Project I: "Development implications of involuntary immobility" is a new four-year FWO/FWF-funded project, jointly implemented by migration researchers from the University for Continuing Education Krems, Austria, and Ghent University, Belgium.

Large numbers of young people around the world, especially in developing countries, want to migrate but lack the capacity to do so. This project will examine conceptually and empirically how this phenomenon, which has been termed 'involuntary immobility', affects human development, focusing on three dimensions: individuals' subjective well-being and mental health, their life aspirations, and behavioural responses and alternatives to migration. The PhD student is expected to work and research on the dynamic link between aspirations and behaviour triggered by involuntary immobility, focusing on youth in Senegal. The PhD student will also contribute to the administrative tasks of the project and carry out a PhD project related to and using the data from the project.

Tasks of the PhD student (based at UWK Krems)

• Interdisciplinary, mixed-methods research in the project "Developmental implications of involuntary immobility”
• Conducting qualitative fieldwork in Senegal with the other PhD student
• Contribute to the collection and analysis of quantitative longitudinal survey data in Senegal
• Publication of research findings in international peer-reviewed journals.

More information about the PhD position at the University of Continuing Education Krems

More information about the PhD position at Ghent University

Project II: "Finding Agreement in Return" is an international collaborative research project, led by Erasmus University Rotterdam, funded by the HORIZON Europe for research on return migration and policy.

This project aims to address the legitimacy deficits affecting return policies and alternatives to return. Complementing the dominant rational choice perspective, it systematically examines the importance of norms, frameworks and shared meanings for interstate cooperation on return. Specific contributions of this project include: econometric modelling to reduce measurement bias in Eurostat return data; better measurement of European return policies through a Migration Return Policy Index; causal inference analysis for all EU+ countries on the impact of policy and non-policy drivers of forced return. The PhD student will contribute to the UWK tasks of the project and carry out a PhD project related to and using the data of the project.

Tasks of the PhD student

• Interdisciplinary research and research assistance in the FAiR project
• Publishing research findings in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Engaging in international research collaboration
• Pursuing and submitting a cumulative PhD dissertation in Migration Studies within three years.

More info about this PhD position

Please do not hesitate to contact mathias.czaika@donau-uni.ac.at if you have any questions about these positions. And we would be very happy if you could help us spread the word.

Kind regards,

Franziska Klauser

Department for Migration and Globalisation 

Franziska Klauser
Public Relations

University for Continuing Education Krems 

Department for Migration and Globalisation

Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Strasse 30

3500 Krems, Austria

Phone: +43 2732 893-5574

E-Mail: franziska.klauser@donau-uni.ac.at
Web: www.donau-uni.ac.at/en/mig

Join us on 15 June for our next online research seminar:
“From the centre of the world to one of its peripheries? New Russians in the South Caucasus“
with Félix Krawatzek (ZOIS Berlin)