The Department of Government at the University of Essex invites applications for a three-year, full-time research position as a PhD fellow.

This PhD fellowship is financed as part of a Grant from the European Research Council for a project on “Conflict, Strategies, and Violence: An Actor-based Approach to Violent and Non-Violent Interactions” led by Professor Kristian Skrede Gleditsch.

Deadline: 1 June 2013

While existing research tends to equate conflict with violence, this project examines conflict in terms of incompatibilities between actors, where the structure of the incompatibilities and the actors’ strategies and interactions determine whether we see escalation to violence, the use of non-violent direct action, and specific alternative outcomes, such as accommodation or regime change. An extended proposal summary is provided below. Candidates with research interests directly related to the project as described are encouraged to apply. All applicants must submit a research proposal that is related to and will contribute to,the core motivation for the project. We welcome applications from persons with broader interests in conflict research and choice of strategies in conflict, but we emphasize that will not consider applications that primarily focus on individual case studies or primarily relate to normative aspects of non-violent direct action.

Applicants must have the following qualifications

* Hold an M.A. or equivalent
* Good skills in research methods and data analysis

In addition, as many as possible of the following qualifications are desirable

* Background in peace and conflict research
* Interest in interdisciplinary work
* Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
* General computing and programming skills
* Experience with collaborative projects

The candidate must be in residence at the University of Essex and enroll in a PhD at Essex under the supervision of Professor Kristian Skrede Gleditsch. The position provides the opportunity to conduct PhD research and work at a leading international research institution with high academic standards and active international collaboration. Women and persons of ethnic minority background are encouraged to apply.

The starting date for the position is 1 October 2013 or as early as possible thereafter.

The application should include:

  1. A completed PhD Application Form
  2. A PhD project description of 6–10 pages, written in English, outlining
  1. main research questions
  2. expected innovation or ‘value-added’ of the project
  3. relationship of the proposed project to the study of violent and non-violent conflict
  4. a progress plan including an overview of milestones/outputs
  1. A curriculum vitae
  2. Certified copies of transcripts from higher education
  3. Contact details for three references

The stipend for the fellowship is approximately £14,200 (with increments).

The position announcement is available at http://gs12.globalsuccessor.com/fe/tpl_essex01.asp?newms=jj&id=69841.

All applications must be submitted electronically by 1 June 2013.

Questions and queries about the fellowship can be addressed to Kristian Skrede Gleditsch (ksg@essex.ac.uk).

For general information about the Department of Government at the University see http://www.essex.ac.uk/government/